The Nissan Qashqai has a lot to answer for. It wasn’t the first SUV, but it was a car that suddenly allowed everyone to have a taste of the SUV life. It was reasonably priced, reliable and funky.
For the second-generation car, Nissan chose to make the car a bit bigger and to upgrade the luxury feel. Again, buyers flocked to it, not only because of the high-class feel but also because it was pretty cheap to run, with low emissions and decent economy, especially from the dCi diesel engines.
However, reliability perhaps wasn’t all it could have been, with owners reporting glitches including noisy front suspension and steering and poor radio reception.
Still, Haynes is here to help. We can guide you through how to track down and repair common faults on your Nissan Qashqai, saving you thousands of garage labour charges. And you get a sense of satisfaction into the bargain. All you need to do is purchase the Haynes manual or Autofix for you Qashqai Mk2 and we’ll be there every time you need us.
What recalls has the Nissan Qashqai been subject to?
Early examples of the second-generation Qashqai were recalled because when the car was heavily loaded and being driven quickly, the right-rear wheelarch trim could touch and damage a brake hose.
Then 7393 examples were recalled because the ECU needed to be reprogrammed to operate an oxygen sensor.
Vehicles fitted with a towing hitch were recalled because the bolts could work their way loose, potentially detaching the hitch from the vehicle.
More than 10,000 cars were recalled because a ceramic capacitor for the radiator fan motor could fail. A modified fan assembly was fitted.
Potentially faulty child lock switches forced another recall.
What common problems does the Nissan Qashqai Mk2 have?
Owners have reported a few issues with the Nissan Qashqai Mk2.
For a start, there have been reports of a creaking noise emanating from the front of the vehicle when it’s being manoeuvred at low speeds, such as when parking.
A number of examples have suffered excessive oil consumption, and also faulty oil level sensors.
In a separate issue, the warning lights for the ABS and ESP systems can also light up. An electrical issue is to blame.
Irritatingly, the engine warning light can suddenly light up, and the engine can switch into limp-home mode. The EGR cooler is the culprit.
Numerous owners have reported being stranded when their vehicle won’t start, and the issue is that the Qashqai has a weak battery.
And a number of owners have said that their Qashqai has developed a fault that means the seatbelts won’t latch properly.
Does the Nissan Qashqai use too much oil?
Glancing in the rearview mirror of your Nissan Qashqai and seeing lots of blue smoke is going to take the edge off anyone’s day. But that’s what can happen in the Qashqai Mk2.
This symptom is often accompanied by the oil level dropping quickly, unusual engine noises and hesitations when you put your foot down. In short, the car feels pretty sick.
The good news is that this is a fault that should be pretty easy to fix with a software update.
However, there’s another issue with the Qashqai’s oil system – because the oil level sensor can fail, and give you a message that the oil level is low when in fact it isn’t.
The solution is to replace the oil level sensor, which is a procedure that’s covered in detail in the Haynes Qashqai manual. Just get the spanners out and you’ll soon be back on the road.
What’s that noise from the Nissan Qashqai’s steering?
Some owners have told us that their Qashqai can suffer an issue in which there’s a creaking or clicking noise from under the bonnet when the steering is being turned while manoeuvring at low speeds.
The cause is a faulty spring seat rubber sound insulator, so your first task will be to remove each front strut. That will allow access to the sound insulator, which you need to remove and replace with a new one. Then it’s a case of refitting the struts.
Sounds complicated but it really isn’t that difficult. Simply follow the in-depth procedure in the suspension and steering chapter of your Haynes Qashqai manual and creaks and groans will soon be a thing of the past.
Why are the Nissan Qashqai ABS and ESP warning lights illuminated?
Annoyingly, you can be driving along in your Qashqai Mk2 and all of a sudden the ABS and ESP warning lights will come on.
Does this signify faults with the systems? Are you in danger of spinning out on the next greasy corner? No, not at all.
The problem is an electrical issue, because there’s poor electrical continuity in the left-hand engine mount earth cable.
Your Haynes Qashqai manual can direct you to where the earth cable is sited, and if it’s loose then all you’ll need to do is tighten it up.
However, if it is already tight then the best option is to replace the cable, and your Qashqai manual can guide you through that as well.
Does the Nissan Qashqai have particulate filter issues?
If you’ve been driving around and start to notice that your Nissan Qashqai doesn’t have quite the same zip it once did, then there’s a likely candidate – the diesel particulate filter might be clogged.
First things first, you’ll need to plug in a fault-code reader to interrogate the car. If it comes up with the code P2002 then it’s the DPF that’s the source of the issue.
This problem is quite common in vehicles that spend the bulk of their lives doing short journeys in stop-start urban traffic. If the filter is badly clogged and giving the car a decent run at high speeds on a motorway doesn’t clear the issue, you’ll need to remove it and clean it out, which is where the Haynes Qashqai manual will offer vital advice and assistance.
And once you’ve cleaned it out and replaced it, take your Qashqai to your local Nissan dealer to have a software update to reduce the chances of it happening again.
Does your Nissan Qashqai have a weak battery?
Getting into your Nissan Qashqai Mk2 and trying to start it only to be met by a click or, at best, a slow churn, is going to spoil anyone’s day. It’s certainly going to delay the start of it, which is a non-starter for most people.
The problem is that the Nissan Qashqai is notorious for having a weak battery that can degrade more quickly than you might expect.
The only solution is to replace the battery, which is the sort of job that will take even the most inexperienced home mechanic around 15 minutes to complete. And if you’re not quite sure how to go about it, just study the images and procedure in your Haynes Qashqai manual, or just watch our FREE video below.
Why won’t the Nissan Qashqai seatbelts latch?
Any seatbelt fault is a big problem, because not only are you breaking the law by not wearing a belt, but your life is also at significant risk in an incident.
Unfortunately, the seatbelts in the Qashqai Mk2 can be prone to unlatching themselves. This is not a particular design fault, but is the result of the car being mainly used by families with messy children. You see, the latches can be prone to foreign objects becoming lodged in them, which stops them from latching properly, with the potential for them to suddenly unlatch.
There’s no specific procedure for this, but if this happens your first task should be to check for foreign objects. And if you can’t get the objects out, you might have to remove the buckle from the vehicle to get better access to it, so will need to follow the steps detailed in your Haynes Qashqai manual.
