The Nissan Qashqai is one of the most common family cars on UK roads, and it has been built in Sunderland since the first one went on sale in 2007. Three generations later, plenty of them are now past their warranty, and the faults that show up depend heavily on which generation and which engine you have. This guide covers the problems each Qashqai generation is known for, what the Nissan-specific warning lights on the dashboard are telling you, and which of those lights will stop the car passing its MOT.
For the general meaning of each symbol, such as oil pressure, coolant or battery charge, our guide to the most common engine warning lights and what causes them covers every one in detail. This post sticks to what is particular to the Qashqai.
Which Qashqai generation do you have?
The Qashqai has had three generations in the UK: the first from 2007 to 2013, the second from 2014 to 2021, and the current model from 2021 onwards. Knowing which one you drive matters, because the engines and the known faults are different for each.
- First generation (2007 to 2013). Petrol engines were a 1.6 and a 2.0, and the diesels were a 1.5 dCi and a 2.0 dCi. The 2.0 dCi was replaced by a 1.6 dCi in September 2011. A seven-seat version, the Qashqai+2, was sold alongside it from late 2008, and the whole range was facelifted in 2010 with a new nose and revised suspension.
- Second generation (2014 to 2021). Launched in January 2014 with a 1.2 DIG-T turbo petrol, a 1.5 dCi and a 1.6 dCi diesel, and an Xtronic CVT automatic option. It was facelifted in 2017, and a 1.3 DIG-T petrol arrived later in its run.
- Third generation (2021 onwards). Petrol only, with 1.3 DIG-T mild hybrid engines and the e-Power version, which uses a petrol engine to charge a battery that drives an electric motor.
The date of first registration, engine size and fuel type are all on your V5C logbook, which is usually enough to tell which generation and engine you have.
What are the common faults on the first-generation Qashqai?
The first-generation Qashqai’s best-known problems are rattles from the rear suspension, rear shock absorbers wearing out early, ignition barrel faults that stop the key coming out, and remote locking problems. Diesel versions also need their exhaust filter and cambelt watching, depending on the engine.
Rear suspension rattles and worn rear shock absorbers
Rattles from the rear suspension are one of the most reported first-generation faults, along with rear shock absorbers that wear out sooner than expected. The early, pre-2010 cars are the ones most often mentioned. Signs include a knock or rattle from the back over speed bumps, the rear of the car bouncing after a dip in the road, and uneven tyre wear on the rear tyres. Shock absorbers are checked at every MOT, so it is worth having a rattle looked at rather than turning the radio up.
Ignition barrel faults
On some first-generation cars the ignition barrel fails, so the key will not turn back, will not come out, or the engine will not switch off. If your key starts to feel stiff or catches as you turn it, have it looked at before it fails completely and leaves the car stuck.
Key fob and central locking problems
Remote central locking can stop working reliably, usually because of poor contacts inside the fob rather than a fault in the car. Try a new fob battery first. If that does not fix it, the fob or the receiver needs testing.
1.5 dCi cambelt
Of the first-generation engines, only the 1.5 dCi diesel uses a cambelt. The other engines use a timing chain. A cambelt has a replacement interval set by both mileage and age, and the one in your service book is the one to follow. If you have bought a used 1.5 dCi and there is no record of the belt being changed, treat it as due. Our guide to what a cambelt does and why it needs replacing explains what happens when one fails.
What are the common faults on the second-generation Qashqai?
The second-generation Qashqai (2014 to 2021) is best known for oil consumption and timing chain noise on the 1.2 DIG-T petrol, air conditioning that stops blowing cold, parking sensors that fill with water, and the usual exhaust filter and EGR problems on the diesels.
1.2 DIG-T oil consumption and timing chain rattle
Some owners of the 1.2 DIG-T petrol have found that it uses an unusual amount of oil, and there are reports of the timing chain rattling under acceleration. The two are worth checking together. Signs to look out for:
- The oil level drops noticeably between services and needs topping up.
- A rattle from the engine as you pull away or accelerate, or when it first starts from cold.
- The engine management light comes on, sometimes with a misfire or a loss of power.
- Blue smoke from the exhaust on start-up.
Check the oil level with the dipstick regularly on a 1.2 DIG-T, and do not wait for the low oil pressure light to tell you. By the time that light is on, the engine is already short of oil. If you are buying one, listen for a rattle on a cold start and ask for the service history.
Air conditioning that stops blowing cold
Air conditioning failures are among the problems owners report on the second-generation car. A common culprit discussed by owners is the condenser, which sits right at the front of the car behind the grille, where it takes stone chips and can start to leak refrigerant. The system then slowly loses its charge until it only blows warm air.
If your Qashqai’s air con has gone weak not long after a regas, that points to a leak rather than normal loss, and topping it up again will only buy a short time. A leak test finds where the refrigerant is escaping before any more is put in.
Parking sensors that bleep at nothing
The second-generation car’s parking sensors are known to let water in, which makes them either bleep when there is nothing there or stay silent when there is. A sensor that misbehaves after rain or a car wash and then recovers once it dries out is the usual pattern.
Diesel DPF and EGR problems
The 1.5 dCi and 1.6 dCi diesels have a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in the exhaust, which traps soot and burns it off during longer drives. Cars used mainly for short, slow journeys never get hot enough to clear it, and the DPF warning light comes on. The EGR valve, which feeds some exhaust gas back into the engine, can also clog with soot on the same kind of driving.
Signs of a DPF or EGR problem include:
- The DPF warning light on the dashboard
- The engine going into limp mode, with much less power
- Rough running, hesitation or a smell of exhaust
- The engine management light coming on alongside the DPF light
A DPF light on its own can often clear with a sustained run at motorway or dual carriageway speed, as the handbook describes. If it comes back, or the engine management light joins it, the car needs a proper diagnosis. Our guides to how DPF regeneration works and what an EGR valve does explain both parts in more detail.
Xtronic CVT automatic gearbox
The Xtronic is a CVT, so it does not change through fixed gears like a traditional automatic. It is meant to feel smooth. A judder when pulling away, a whine that rises with speed, the revs flaring without the car picking up speed, or an AT CHECK light on the dashboard are all signs that it needs looking at. CVT fluid condition matters to these gearboxes, so check whether the fluid has been changed as the service schedule requires.
What should owners of the current Qashqai look out for?
The third-generation Qashqai has only been on sale since 2021, so it has not built up the long, settled fault history of the older cars, and most are still under warranty. For these cars the dashboard and the infotainment screen do more of the talking: a fault that would once have lit a single symbol now usually comes with a written message as well.
Two things are worth knowing:
- Driver assistance warnings. Features such as emergency braking and lane keeping rely on a camera behind the windscreen and a radar sensor in the front of the car. Dirt, ice or snow over the sensor can switch them off temporarily and bring up a warning. If the warning stays after the sensor is clean, it needs checking. After a windscreen replacement, the camera usually needs recalibrating so the systems work correctly.
- Mild hybrid and e-Power systems. These cars carry extra electrical systems alongside the normal 12-volt battery. A warning relating to the hybrid or electric drive system is one to have read by someone with diagnostic equipment, rather than cleared and ignored.
What do the Nissan-specific warning lights mean on a Qashqai?
Most Qashqai warning lights match those on any other car, but a few are particular to Nissan. The most important is the master warning light, a red triangle that Nissan uses for both minor and serious problems, so you need to read the message that comes with it.
Master warning light
Red warning lights normally mean stop, but Nissan’s master warning light can come on for something as simple as a door not fully shut or the oil needing a top-up. Look at the message in the display between the dials. That message tells you what triggered it. If there is no clear message, or the light stays on once the obvious cause is sorted, have the fault codes read.
Chassis control (CK SUSP) warning
This light warns of a fault in the chassis control system, which covers features that help with stability and ride. You can usually still drive the car, but you risk making the fault worse, so get it checked soon.
AT CHECK
AT CHECK means the automatic transmission has a fault. On a CVT Qashqai, depending on the fault, the car may go into a protective mode or may not drive at all. Do not keep driving on it hoping it will clear, because gearbox damage tends to get worse with use.
Diesel-only lights
- Glow plug light. It is normal for this to come on briefly before a cold start. If it flashes or stays on while driving, there is a fault in the preheating system.
- Water in fuel light. This shows that water has been detected in the diesel. If it comes on just after you have filled up, the fuel may be contaminated. Stop and get advice rather than carrying on.
- DPF light. The exhaust filter is filling with soot. See the DPF section above.
Electronic power steering light
If the power steering warning light comes on, the steering will be much heavier, especially at low speeds and when parking. The car can still be steered, but drive it carefully and get it looked at.
When a warning light means stop now
Pull over safely and switch the engine off if you see a red oil pressure light, a red coolant temperature light, or a red brake system light. Carrying on with any of these can turn a repairable fault into a much bigger one, or leave you without proper brakes.
Which Qashqai warning lights will fail an MOT?
The MOT test checks a number of dashboard warning lights, and since the test changed in May 2018 that has included the engine management light. A lit warning light for any of these systems is a fail. On a Qashqai, the lights that matter for the MOT are:
- Engine management light (MIL)
- Airbag and seatbelt pretensioner (SRS) warning light
- ABS warning light
- Brake system and brake fluid level warning light
- Electronic stability control (ESC) warning light
- Electronic power steering warning light
- Tyre pressure monitoring (TPMS) warning light, on cars first used from 1 January 2012
A service reminder is not an MOT item, so a service due message on its own will not cause a fail. If a warning light is on as your Qashqai’s MOT gets close, it is far better to have the fault found and fixed first than to have the test failed for it. We carry out MOT testing in Burgess Hill, and it makes sense to sort a warning light before the test date.
Has your Qashqai been recalled?
Every generation of the Qashqai has been subject to manufacturer recalls, covering different parts and different build dates. The simplest way to check your own car is the free vehicle recall check on GOV.UK, which only needs the make and registration. Recall work is carried out free of charge by Nissan dealers. If a recall is outstanding on your car, it is worth getting it done, whatever the age of the car.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the red triangle light on in my Nissan Qashqai?
The red triangle is Nissan’s master warning light. It comes on alongside a message in the instrument display, and the message tells you the cause. On a Qashqai that can be something minor, such as a door not fully closed, or something that needs attention, such as low oil. If there is no message, or the light stays on once you have dealt with the obvious cause, have the fault codes read.
Can I drive my Qashqai with the engine management light on?
A steady engine management light usually means you can drive carefully to a garage, but the fault should be found soon. A flashing engine management light normally points to a misfire that can damage the catalytic converter, so reduce your speed and get the car checked straight away. In both cases, the car will fail its MOT while the light is on.
Why does my Qashqai’s DPF light keep coming on?
The DPF light usually comes back because the car does mostly short, slow journeys, so the filter never gets hot enough to burn off its soot. A longer run at steady motorway or dual carriageway speed often clears it. If the light returns again and again, there may be an underlying cause, such as a faulty sensor or a clogged EGR valve, that needs diagnosing.
Is the Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T a bad engine?
The 1.2 DIG-T is not bad in every car, but some owners have reported high oil consumption and a rattling timing chain. If you own one, check the oil level regularly and do not rely on the warning light. If you are buying one, listen for rattles on a cold start, check for blue smoke, and ask for a full service history.
How do I know what is wrong with my Qashqai?
A warning light comes with fault codes stored in the car’s computer, and reading those codes is the starting point. A professional diagnostic check reads the codes, checks the live data from the engine and other systems, and works out what caused the fault, so you are not paying to replace parts by guesswork.
Qashqai warning light on? Get it checked in Burgess Hill
If your Qashqai has a warning light on, a new rattle, air con that has stopped blowing cold, or a DPF light that keeps coming back, our car diagnostics in Burgess Hill will find out what is causing it. We look after drivers in Burgess Hill and across Mid Sussex. Get in touch to book your Qashqai in.