2021 Nissan Qashqai MOT pass rate: 92.2% (31,435 tests)
Is the 2021 Qashqai getting worse?
Pass rate of 2021-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 93.0% +2.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 91.3% +1.1 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2021 Qashqai
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1,189 | 30.9% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,074 | 27.9% |
| 3 | Visibility | 757 | 19.7% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 333 | 8.7% |
| 5 | Suspension | 151 | 3.9% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 115 | 3.0% |
All Qashqai years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 27,718 | 54.5% | -10.6 pts | 118,596 |
| 2008 | 37,753 | 52.4% | -12.7 pts | 116,760 |
| 2009 | 65,162 | 51.9% | -14.5 pts | 114,190 |
| 2010 | 89,217 | 54.2% | -13.1 pts | 110,348 |
| 2011 | 96,760 | 56.1% | -13.0 pts | 102,125 |
| 2012 | 118,575 | 58.8% | -12.4 pts | 94,759 |
| 2013 | 133,969 | 62.6% | -10.7 pts | 85,935 |
| 2014 | 131,754 | 71.9% | -4.0 pts | 80,032 |
| 2015 | 165,900 | 75.9% | -2.9 pts | 70,878 |
| 2016 | 172,421 | 79.0% | -2.4 pts | 61,647 |
| 2017 | 176,127 | 82.6% | -1.4 pts | 52,941 |
| 2018 | 139,116 | 85.2% | -1.1 pts | 45,508 |
| 2019 | 147,631 | 88.5% | +0.2 pts | 35,788 |
| 2020 | 94,404 | 92.0% | +2.1 pts | 27,701 |
| 2021 (this page) | 31,435 | 92.2% | +1.7 pts | 26,534 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Nissan Qashqai years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2021 Nissan Qashqai reliable?
2021-registered examples passed 92.2% of their MOT tests (31,435 tests, 2023–2025), +1.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 5 years old with a median 26,534 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2021 Qashqai?
The median tested example shows 26,534 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.