Verdict
The 2015 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 diesel passes its MOT first time on 76.5% of tests, against 75.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats 55% of cars on UK roads: a little better than average, and well ahead of the Qashqai as a whole, which beats only about three in ten.
Its small lead fades with age: about 3 points ahead of a typical car up to 7 years old, level at 8, and 4–6 points behind at 10–11. Mileage matters more. Across all years of the 1.5 diesel (including the much weaker 2007–2013 cars), it is ahead of a typical car up to about 40,000 miles, but about 6–7 points behind at 80,000 miles and 11–14 behind beyond 100,000.
2014–2019 cars of this engine are much alike, each beating about half of cars. 2008–2013 cars beat only about one in ten. Among 2015 Qashqais, the 1.2 petrol does a little better, beating about two in three cars; the 1.6 diesel is level with the 1.5 and the 1.6 petrol just behind.
Lights and bodywork fail much less often than on a typical car, but suspension and steering (each 1.5 times as often) fail more often: suspension ball joints 2.7 times and brake pads 1.9 times as often as on a typical car.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT.
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Suspension ball joints
Fail about 2.7 times as often as on a typical car, on about 1 in 35 tests. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Brake pads
The most common fail, on about 1 in 23 tests (1.9 times the typical rate), and an advisory on about one test in six. Ask when the pads were last replaced, look for a brake-wear warning on the dash and check the discs through the wheel spokes for a heavy rust lip. - Ball joint dust covers
Fail about 4.5 times as often as on a typical car, on about 1 in 90 tests. Look behind the front wheels for split rubber boots on the suspension and steering joints. - Anti-roll bar links
About 3.2 times the typical rate, on about 1 in 95 tests. A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn links (cheap to fix). - Track rod ends
Fail about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car (about 1 in 70 tests), and testers advise on them nearly 3 times as often. Feel for play or knocking in the steering and look for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Coil springs
Fail on about 1 in 35 tests, 1.6 times the typical rate. Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil and listen for clunks over bumps. - Wipers and washers
Each fail on about 1 in 40 tests, a little more often than on a typical car. Check the blades clear the screen and the washers spray properly.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brake pads | 4.3% | 2.3% | 1.9× |
| Tyre tread depth | 3.0% | 2.7% | 1.1× |
| Suspension ball joints | 2.9% | 1.1% | 2.7× |
| Coil springs | 2.8% | 1.8% | 1.5× |
| Windscreen wipers | 2.5% | 2.0% | 1.2× |
| Windscreen washers | 2.4% | 1.7% | 1.4× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 2.3% | 3.4% | 0.7× |
| Track rod ends | 1.4% | 1.0% | 1.4× |
| Headlight aim | 1.3% | 2.4% | 0.6× |
| Ball joint dust covers | 1.1% | 0.2% | 4.6× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 49.5 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 40.7 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 29.5 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 28.3 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 24.4 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 23.6 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 15.3 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 14.0 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Advisories
Not a fail yet, but likely to need attention soon.
| Item | Share of tests | vs typical |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread depth | 19.5% | 1.1× |
| Brake pads | 15.6% | 1.8× |
| Brake discs | 11.8% | 1.2× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 8.5% | 1.1× |
| Suspension arm bushes | 5.5% | 1.6× |
| Shock absorbers | 1.9% | 0.6× |
| Suspension ball joints | 1.8% | 2.1× |
| Track rod ends | 1.6% | 2.8× |
Best and worst years
Qashqai 1.5 Diesel by year, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Other 2015 Qashqai engines
Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Diesel | 76.5% | Beats 55% | C |
| 1.2 Petrol | 81.5% | Beats 67% | B |
| 1.6 Diesel | 77.2% | Beats 56% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 78.9% | Beats 51% | C |
FAQ
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2015 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 diesel?
76.5% of MOT tests on the 2015 Qashqai 1.5 diesel were passed first time, from 227,664 tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 75.9%.
Is the 2015 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 diesel reliable?
On MOT results it is a little above average: it beats 55% of cars on UK roads, far more than 2007–2013 Qashqais. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
What are the most common MOT failures on the 2015 Qashqai 1.5 diesel?
Brake pads (about 1 in 23 tests), tyre tread depth, suspension ball joints and coil springs. Ball joints fail 2.7 times as often as on a typical car.
Which year of Qashqai 1.5 diesel is best?
Cars from 2014 to 2019 are much alike, each beating about half of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account. 2008–2013 cars beat only about one in ten.
Which 2015 Qashqai engine is best?
The 1.2 petrol does best, beating about two in three cars. The 1.5 and 1.6 diesels are level and the 1.6 petrol is just behind.
Is a high-mileage Qashqai 1.5 diesel a good buy?
Be careful: across all years of the 1.5 diesel, it passes about 6–7 points less often than a typical car at 80,000 miles and 11–14 points less beyond 100,000. Check the suspension joints and brakes closely.