Nissan Qashqai problems: known faults by year, engine and gearbox

The best-known Nissan Qashqai problems are timing chain wear and high oil consumption on the 1.2 DIG-T (2014 to 2018), wear and overheating of the Xtronic CVT, starting faults from corroded earth cables on the second generation and, on diesels, a hose at the particulate filter that can crack. Which applies depends on your generation, engine and gearbox.

That is exactly what makes it tricky. You hear a rattle on a cold start, or the car judders as you pull away, but is it the engine or the automatic gearbox? And does what you read online even apply to your year? A Qashqai from 2015 has a different engine and a different automatic from one built in 2019 or 2023.

This overview sorts it out by generation (J10, J11 and J12), by engine and by type of transmission, with a table that matches symptoms to likely causes. We base it on public sources such as the ANWB Wegenwacht (the Dutch motoring club’s roadside service) and Nissan’s technical data, plus our own knowledge as a transmission specialist. ATR Transmissies in Montfoort works on automatic gearboxes, CVTs and dual-clutch transmissions, and we will also tell you when a complaint turns out to be the engine.

Nissan Qashqai problems by generation at a glance

The Qashqai has had three generations, and each has its own weak points. Use this table to see quickly what to look out for on your car.

Two things stand out. Most complaints cluster around the second generation with the 1.2 DIG-T. And not every automatic Qashqai has a CVT: the 1.3 DIG-T from the last J11 years uses a dual-clutch gearbox. That makes a big difference to the diagnosis.

Which Qashqai do you have?

You can tell the generation from the year: up to 2013 it is a J10, from 2014 to 2021 a J11 and from 2021 a J12. In the Netherlands, the registration certificate and the free RDW vehicle data (look up your registration number on the RDW website) show the first registration date and fuel type. The engine is usually in the model name, such as “1.2 DIG-T” or “1.5 dCi”.

The automatic is harder. “Xtronic” is Nissan’s name for its CVT, but a late J11 with the 1.3 DIG-T and an automatic has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Some of the last J11 diesels were also listed with the DCT. If you are not sure which gearbox your car has, read how to identify your automatic gearbox, or give us your registration number and we will check.

Nissan Qashqai engine problems

The engine decides a lot about how trouble-free your Qashqai is. The small turbo petrol engines of the J11 era need the most attention. The non-turbo petrol engines of the J10 are simpler.

1.2 DIG-T (2014 to 2018): timing chain and oil use

The 1.2 DIG-T (115 PS, engine code HR12DDT) is the engine with the most reports. It was in the Qashqai from the launch of the J11 until autumn 2018, when the 1.3 replaced it. Renault uses a closely related engine as the 1.2 TCe (H5Ft), for example in the Kadjar and Captur.

These problems keep coming back:

• Oil consumption. High oil use on this engine family is widely reported, and Honest John’s advice service confirms a known problem on the Qashqai 1.2. A low oil level in turn speeds up wear on the timing chain and its tensioner.
• Timing chain. The chain has no fixed replacement interval, but owners regularly report it stretching. The first sign is a rattle just after a cold start. Leave it too long and the chain can jump, causing serious engine damage.
• Camshaft timing. The ANWB Wegenwacht reports that the variable camshaft timing on the 1.2 petrol can stick.

Our advice: check the oil level yourself between services and have a rattling cold start looked at straight away. The trim level makes no difference here: a Visia, Acenta, N-Connecta or Tekna with the 1.2 DIG-T has the same engine. If your 1.2 is an automatic, the Xtronic CVT points below apply too.

1.3 DIG-T and the 1.3 mild hybrid

The 1.3 DIG-T (HR13DDT) replaced both the 1.2 DIG-T and the 1.6 DIG-T in autumn 2018. Renault calls it the H5Ht and Mercedes-Benz uses it as the M282. In the J11 it came with 140 PS or 160 PS, and the seven-speed DCT was available with the 160 PS version.

Like the 1.2, the 1.3 has a timing chain, and it is seen as a clear improvement. Chain noise is still reported on this engine now and then, so a rattle on a cold start remains a reason to have it checked.

In the third generation (J12) the 1.3 DIG-T is a mild hybrid (MHEV) with 140 or 158 PS. The system works at 12 volts: a lithium-ion battery and a belt-driven starter generator that stores braking energy and gives the engine a light assist. It is not a 48-volt system, whatever you may read. Only the 158 PS version is available with the Xtronic CVT. Reports on the mild hybrid mostly concern the start-stop system and warning messages on the dashboard, less so mechanical wear.

Which 1.6? Petrol, turbo petrol or diesel

“The 1.6” exists in three very different forms on the Qashqai, so if you are looking up Nissan Qashqai 1.6 problems, first check which engine you have:

• 1.6 petrol without turbo (J10, HR16DE). A simple engine with a solid reputation. Most complaints relate to age or to the Xtronic CVT.
• 1.6 DIG-T turbo petrol (J11, MR16DDT). The most powerful petrol engine in the J11, available until autumn 2018. It draws far fewer reports than the 1.2.
• 1.6 dCi diesel (R9M). Used in the J10 and the J11, and in the J11 also with the Xtronic CVT. The diesel points below apply.

Diesels: 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 and 2.0 dCi

All Qashqai diesels are dCi engines from the Renault-Nissan alliance. According to the ANWB, they disappeared from the range in mid-2020.

The ANWB Wegenwacht names one specific point on the J11 diesel: a hose at the particulate filter (DPF) connection can crack, which can even let exhaust gases into the cabin. Later cars seem to be free of it, but if you smell exhaust or diesel inside the car, have it checked immediately. Beyond that, Qashqai diesels share what affects many modern diesels: lots of short trips stop the particulate filter from regenerating properly and clog the EGR valve.

e-Power: a petrol engine as a generator

The e-Power works differently from every other Qashqai. A 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with variable compression does not drive the wheels at all; it only generates electricity. An electric motor of about 140 kW (190 PS) drives the car through a single fixed ratio. There is no conventional gearbox.

That removes the classic CVT and DCT complaints. Because the e-Power is relatively new, there is little long-term experience with it. A drive fault on this car is not in a gearbox but in the electric drive, its control electronics or the reduction gear. That calls for a different diagnosis from a normal automatic.

Nissan Qashqai gearbox problems: CVT, DCT, automatic or manual

Many Nissan Qashqai problems that you feel while driving come from the gearbox. Which complaints you can expect depends entirely on the type of transmission. This table shows which gearbox goes with which engine.

Xtronic CVT: the best-known Qashqai automatic problems

The Xtronic is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) made by Jatco, the transmission company that started life as a Nissan spin-off. Instead of fixed gears it uses two pulleys and a steel push belt. Different Jatco versions are fitted depending on the engine and its torque.

The best-known complaints of the CVT in the Nissan Qashqai are:

• vibration or judder when pulling away gently;
• a whining or humming noise that rises with road speed;
• revs that climb while the car does not speed up accordingly;
• overheating on long drives, in traffic jams or when towing, after which the car drops into limp mode.

Behind those complaints there is usually old CVT fluid, wear on the push belt and pulleys, or a fault in the control system. You can read all symptoms, causes and solutions in our detailed article on Nissan Qashqai CVT problems. We explain separately how a CVT gearbox works and why CVT maintenance makes such a difference. The same Xtronic is also fitted to smaller Nissans, as described under Nissan Note problems.

Seven-speed DCT: the automatic of the 1.3 DIG-T (2018 to 2021)

If you have a Qashqai from 2019, 2020 or 2021 with the 1.3 DIG-T and an automatic, you most likely do not have a CVT but a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the Getrag 7DCT300. Nissan introduced it in late 2018 as the first DCT in one of its volume models. Such a gearbox works like two manual gearboxes, each with its own clutch, controlled electronically.

DCT complaints are different from CVT complaints. Think of jerky pulling away, hesitation or bucking at walking pace and while parking, harsh shifts, or a warning message after which the gearbox goes into limp mode. The cause then often lies with the clutches or the control unit. Read more about this technology in our article on the dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

Six-speed automatic with torque converter (J10)

The first generation was also available with a conventional six-speed automatic with a torque converter, notably on the 2.0 dCi. These gearboxes are getting old now. Harsh or delayed shifts and slip often point to worn fluid, a contaminated valve body or wear in the torque converter.

Manual gearbox

Most Qashqais have a six-speed manual (some first-generation cars a five-speed). Complaints there are mainly about clutch wear. If you often tow a caravan or trailer, the gearbox itself has a harder life too. If you notice heavy or crunching gear changes, read the symptoms of a failing gearbox.

Nissan Qashqai problems by year

The year mainly tells you which engine and gearbox your car is likely to have. Here is what to expect per period.

First generation J10 (2007 to 2013)

The J10 is now at least twelve years old, so many complaints come down to wear: suspension, brakes and pipes. The ANWB Wegenwacht also mentions early problems with the rear shock absorbers (adjusted at the facelift) and a sticking relay that can keep the cooling fans running and drain the battery. Mechanically, the 1.6 petrol without turbo is the simplest choice. On automatics it is the Xtronic CVT or the six-speed automatic, and at this age the gearbox’s maintenance history matters more than the badge on the bonnet. On diesels, the DPF and EGR deserve extra attention.

Nissan Qashqai 2014, 2015 and 2016 problems

These are the pre-facelift J11 years, and the years with the most reports. Many cars have the 1.2 DIG-T, so the timing chain and oil consumption top the checklist. On an automatic, add the Xtronic CVT.

The ANWB Wegenwacht also reports, for J11 cars of this period with the 1.2, wiring above the engine that can chafe through and stop the engine starting, a short circuit in the cooling fan that can blow a main fuse and stop the engine, and cars that no longer recognise the key after the battery has been disconnected or run flat, which needs a garage to fix.

Nissan Qashqai 2017 and 2018 problems

In spring 2017 the J11 was facelifted. Under the bonnet little changed until autumn 2018: the 1.2 DIG-T remained the entry engine and the Xtronic CVT the automatic. A Qashqai from 2017 or early 2018 therefore needs the same checks on the chain and oil use.

For the facelifted J11, the ANWB Wegenwacht names corrosion where the earth cables attach under the bonnet. That can break the earth connection and cause starting problems. On diesels it is the cracking hose at the particulate filter. The Wegenwacht’s impression is that both problems no longer occur on later cars.

From autumn 2018 came the 1.3 DIG-T, and with it the seven-speed DCT as the automatic. So with a 2018 Qashqai it is especially important to know exactly which engine it has.

Nissan Qashqai 2019, 2020 and 2021 problems

In the last J11 years, the Qashqai runs with the 1.3 DIG-T or a dCi diesel, until the diesels left the range in mid-2020. Engine complaints are fewer in these years than with the 1.2. If you buy an automatic petrol from these years, you most likely get the DCT. So on a test drive, watch for jerky pull-away or hesitation at low speed, not just the typical CVT complaints.

Nissan Qashqai J12 problems (2021 onwards)

The third generation, including the Nissan Qashqai 2022 and later, is petrol only: the 1.3 DIG-T mild hybrid or the e-Power. In such young cars, software and electronics play a bigger role than mechanical wear. If you get a warning from the start-stop or mild hybrid system, have it checked by the dealer first, especially while the factory warranty runs. On the 158 PS version with Xtronic, the same CVT points apply as on earlier generations. The e-Power has no gearbox.

Engine or gearbox? How to tell the symptoms apart

Many complaints feel the same but have a completely different cause. This table helps you estimate where a complaint comes from. You only get certainty after reading out the fault codes and a test drive.

A limp mode or warning light leaves fault codes behind. Find out what your symptom could mean in our overview of transmission fault codes. If your automatic no longer shifts smoothly, also see automatic gearbox not shifting properly.

Does the Nissan Qashqai have a timing belt or chain?

All Qashqai petrol engines covered here have a timing chain: the 1.6 and 2.0 of the J10, and the 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6 DIG-T of the J11 and J12. A chain has no fixed replacement interval, but it can stretch. That is why a rattling cold start on these engines is the signal to have it checked.

On diesels it differs per engine. The 1.5 dCi generally uses a timing belt with a fixed replacement interval. Whatever diesel you drive, check the service book or have the schedule checked by registration number, so you know what your engine has and when the work is due.

Recalls: how to check your Qashqai in the Netherlands

On the RDW website you can check by registration number whether your Qashqai has an open recall. Always do this when buying a used car.

A recent example: Nissan recalled 259,338 Qashqais worldwide because a fuel line near the engine can move in its retaining clip. That can wear the line and, in some cases, cause a fuel leak. In the Netherlands it involved 386 cars, and the RDW rated the risk as “medium”. The dealer inspects the line and fits a protector or a new line where needed. Affected owners receive a letter.

Is the Nissan Qashqai reliable, and which years to avoid?

Yes, overall the Nissan Qashqai is a reliable car. The ANWB lists the facelifted J11 as “very reliable” and says that, apart from a few known niggles, the Qashqai is as reliable as you would expect of a Nissan. Its reputation suffers mainly from the early 1.2 DIG-T and from automatics whose maintenance was skipped.

There is no single year to avoid, but there are combinations to be critical of. If you are looking for a used Qashqai, this rule of thumb helps:

• Fewest engine worries: a J11 from autumn 2018 with the 1.3 DIG-T, or a J12.
• Older J11 with the 1.2 DIG-T (2014 to 2018): only with a complete service history, a stable oil level and no rattle on a cold start.
• Automatic: always ask about the transmission maintenance. On a CVT, changing the fluid on time is the main condition for a long life; read more under changing gearbox oil.
• Doubts about the gearbox: have the transmission read out before you buy, and a test drive done by someone who knows the difference between CVT and DCT complaints.

Curious how the Qashqai compares with other models? See our overview of automatic gearbox problems by brand.

Problems with your Qashqai? How ATR Transmissies works

Do you notice a rattling cold start, judder when pulling away, or a car that drops into limp mode? Then do not keep driving on it. The longer you wait, the bigger the chance that a targeted repair grows into a major job.

We understand that you want certainty about what is wrong with your car before you spend money on a repair. That is why we work in three steps:

1. Book your car in. Give us the registration number, the complaint and any fault codes. We assess the request and schedule the car.
2. Independent basic diagnosis. Our transmission specialists find out where the complaint comes from and take the car for a test drive to experience the problem themselves. You get well-founded advice on the possible next steps. If the cause is in the engine and not the gearbox, we tell you that too.
3. Drive without worry. Based on the diagnosis we discuss what is needed. Once you agree, our specialists get to work. Afterwards we test the car and carry out a thorough final check.

We only repair what really needs repairing, and often in a targeted way instead of replacing a complete gearbox. Read more about who we are on about ATR. Want to know what a repair would cost in your case? Contact us for a price indication based on your registration number and complaint, or book your car in straight away.

For garages: if you get stuck on a CVT or DCT complaint on a Qashqai, you can book the car in with us or have the diagnosis done remotely with ATR Remote.

FAQ about Nissan Qashqai problems

What is the weak point of the Nissan Qashqai?

The best-known weak point is the 1.2 DIG-T petrol engine from 2014 to late 2018, with timing chain wear and high oil consumption. The Xtronic CVT automatic is also sensitive to wear and overheating, especially if the fluid was never changed. The J11 can also suffer starting problems from corroded earth cables or chafed wiring.

Which year of Nissan Qashqai should you avoid?

Be most careful with 2014 to 2018 cars with the 1.2 DIG-T, unless the service history is complete and the engine is quiet on a cold start. With any automatic, avoid a car whose gearbox maintenance is unknown. A J11 from late 2018 with the 1.3 DIG-T, or a J12, gives the fewest engine worries.

Which year is the best Nissan Qashqai?

Within the J11, cars from late 2018 onwards with the 1.3 DIG-T are generally the least troublesome petrol models. In the J10, the 1.6 petrol without turbo is a simple, solid choice. For a newer car, the J12 is the safest bet, keeping in mind that long-term data on the e-Power is still limited.

Is the 2020 Nissan Qashqai reliable?

Generally yes. A 2020 Qashqai has the 1.3 DIG-T or one of the last diesels, both with fewer reports than the 1.2. The ANWB rates the facelifted J11 as very reliable. If it is an automatic petrol, it most likely has the DCT, so check it for jerky pull-away at low speed.

Is the 1.5 dCi engine in the Qashqai a problem engine?

Not in the sources we checked. The 1.5 dCi mainly needs the usual diesel care: enough longer drives for the particulate filter to regenerate, a clean EGR valve and the timing belt replaced on schedule. On the J11, also check the DPF hose the ANWB mentions.

What were the common problems with the 2013 Nissan Qashqai?

A 2013 Qashqai is a late J10, so most problems are age-related: suspension, brakes, pipes and, on automatics, the condition of the CVT or six-speed automatic. The ANWB also mentions a cooling fan relay that can stick and drain the battery. Diesels need attention to the DPF and EGR.

Does the Nissan Qashqai have a Renault engine?

Partly. All diesels are dCi engines from the Renault-Nissan alliance. The 1.2 and 1.3 DIG-T were developed with Renault and are used by Renault as the 1.2 TCe (H5Ft) and 1.3 TCe (H5Ht) in models such as the Kadjar and Captur. Mercedes-Benz uses the 1.3 as the M282.

Does the Qashqai e-Power have a gearbox?

No. In the e-Power, a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine only generates electricity, and an electric motor drives the wheels through a single fixed ratio. So the e-Power has no CVT or DCT, and the classic automatic gearbox complaints do not apply.

How do I know if my Qashqai has a CVT or a DCT?

Most automatic Qashqais have an Xtronic CVT. The main exception is the J11 with the 1.3 DIG-T and an automatic, built from late 2018 to 2021: that has a seven-speed DCT. If in doubt, we can check it for you by registration number.

What does it cost to fix Nissan Qashqai problems?

That depends on the cause, the type of gearbox and how far the damage has gone. A fluid change or a targeted repair is a very different job from an overhaul, which is why we start with a diagnosis. Read which factors count under gearbox overhaul costs. Contact us for a price indication based on your registration number and complaint.

What is the life expectancy of a Nissan Qashqai?

There is no fixed figure; maintenance makes the difference. On the 1.2 DIG-T, a healthy chain and a stable oil level are the main conditions. On an automatic, it is maintaining the transmission on time, above all changing the CVT fluid.

Know your year, engine and gearbox

Nissan Qashqai problems mainly come down to three things: the timing chain and oil consumption of the 1.2 DIG-T, the wear-sensitive Xtronic CVT, and a few known smaller faults such as the earth cables and wiring on the J11 and the particulate filter hose on diesels. The third generation and the 1.3 DIG-T do clearly better, and the e-Power has no gearbox at all.

If you know the year, engine and type of gearbox, you know what to look out for. Not sure whether a complaint comes from the engine or the transmission? Book your car in with ATR Transmissies in Montfoort. We start with an independent basic diagnosis and tell you honestly what is and is not needed.