The Qashqai is the fifth most common car on British roads at around 726,000 examples, and it effectively invented the family crossover here. It also brought the CVT automatic gearbox to a mass UK audience — the single biggest reason Nissan owners go looking for warranty cover. Here is the honest position on that, and on the rest of the range.
How long the Nissan factory warranty lasts
Three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Nissan's EV batteries carry separate, longer cover — typically eight years or 100,000 miles against capacity loss below a stated threshold, which is a different promise from the general vehicle warranty and worth reading carefully if you own a Leaf.
What the MOT data says about Nissan
75.3% of Nissans passed their MOT first time in the 2024 DVSA test year, placing the brand 17th of 25 and around three points below average.
Nissan's UK fleet is dominated by family cars that do school runs, motorway commutes and a great deal of stop-start mileage. That is hard on brakes, tyres and suspension — the categories that drive most MOT failures — which explains a good deal of the score without saying much about the engines.
The Nissan failures that cost real money
- The Xtronic CVT automatic. Nissan's continuously variable transmission is the brand's defining warranty question. Owners report juddering, whining, slipping or a loss of drive, most often as mileage climbs. A replacement is a major bill and the unit is generally replaced rather than rebuilt at a main dealer.
- Timing chain on older 1.5 dCi diesels. Chain and tensioner wear on higher-mileage examples of the earlier Renault-derived diesel.
- DPF blockage. A recurring problem on diesel Qashqais used mostly for short journeys, which is exactly how many of them are driven.
- Turbochargers. Both the petrol and diesel turbo engines produce turbo failures at higher mileages.
- Suspension and brake components. Consistent with the MOT picture on a heavy, family-loaded crossover.
What that costs
A CVT replacement is the one to plan for. As a gearbox, it falls in the £800–£3,000 range depending on the route taken — a reconditioned unit from a specialist at the lower end, a main dealer replacement at the top. Turbo work is typically four figures. Clutch replacement on the manuals is £300–£600.
Is the CVT covered by a warranty?
This deserves a straight answer, because it is the question we are asked most about Nissans.
A CVT that fails mechanically or hydraulically is a covered component on a comprehensive policy, ours included. Three things will decide a real claim. Whether the transmission fluid was changed at the intervals Nissan specifies — CVTs are far less tolerant of neglected fluid than a conventional automatic, and a missed change is the most common reason a CVT claim is refused. Whether the symptoms predate the policy, because a judder you noticed before buying cover is a pre-existing fault. And whether the claim limit covers the bill, since a main dealer replacement can exceed a per-claim cap on a cheaper policy.
If you own a CVT Qashqai and have the fluid change receipts, you are in a strong position. If you do not, get the fluid done now and keep the invoice.
When cover is worth it for a Nissan owner
A CVT-equipped Qashqai or X-Trail past its factory warranty is among the strongest cases for extended cover we see, for the same reason as a VW DSG: one failure costs more than several years of premium, and these cars stay in family use for a long time.
A manual, petrol Micra or Juke is a much softer case — fewer expensive failure modes and a cheaper car underneath. And if you drive a Leaf, check what remains of the eight-year battery cover before buying anything, because that is the expensive part already accounted for.
