Nissan Qashqai 2018 Problems

If it’s the front indicator globe that’s blown, you need to open the bonnet and work from inside the engine bay. The front indicator globe is held in a plastic component that forms part of the whole headlight assembly. The bit you need to find is right at the outer edge of the headlight assembly, right in the corner of the engine bay. Once you’ve located that (it will have wires coming out of it), a half clockwise twist will allow you to remove the plastic globe holder and change the globe.

If it’s a rear globe, you need to open the hatchback, remove the screws that secure the tail-light assembly and then slide the tail-light free of the car. Turning it over, you’ll see the wiring and some plastic clips that fasten the globe-holder to the whole assembly. By unclipping this holder, you can remove it from the rest of the tail-light and reveal the globes which can then be removed and replaced.

It sounds like it is going into ‘limp home’ mode, which cuts the performance of the car but still lets you drive it at a much reduced pace to get it fixed. But it appears to happen at random, which makes it hard for mechanics to trace and fix. It is most likely a problem with the electronics, so if it continues to occur I would suggest you sit down with the dealer and work out a plan of action to hopefully find the cause and fix it.

It's hard to recommend a car that would suit you without knowing more about what you want to do with it, but I would suggest you avoid sporty models, low-profile tyres, and consider an SUV such as a Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, or Renault Captur.

In comparison to other cars on the market today Qashqai parts aren't really considered expensive. Some parts are more expensive than more common vehicles like Toyota's RAV4 or Mazda's CX-5, while they're also cheaper than many European marques.

On the face of it the top-of-the-line Ti model is obviously the best, as it comes with the biggest amount of standard equipment. However, the Ti might not be the best Qashqai if you're shopping with less than $38,000 in your account, so the base model ST represents a good way into a new, modern car for just $29,000.

Pull the small slot on the back of the key fob to the left, then remove the emergency key from the end of the fob. Put a small flat-blade screwdriver into the slots where the emergency key slid out of, gently prying the fob apart by slowly twisting the blade. They fob then splits in half and you can replace the battery.

For models with later models you pop the bonnet, then turn the cover on the back of the headlight a quarter-turn anti-clockwise. Put on gloves, then pull the headlight and wiring out. Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the H7 globe from the plug and mounting ring. Place mounting ring on new headlight bulb, push until it clicks, then refit. Older models are simpler. Pop the bonnet then pull the wiring plug away from the back of the headlight. Spin the cover anti-clockwise and then pull the H7 Halogen globe out with the cover. Do not touch the globe with your bare hands as it will shorten the lifespan of the new globe. Because of this, and the tight confines of the work space you should wear gloves when doing this job.

The petrol Qashqai is rated to tow up to 1200kg, while the diesel is rated to tow up to 1400kg.

The Nissan Qashqai's overall length is 4394mm. Other dimensions are kerb weight (1429kg), width (1806mm), and height (1595mm).

So long as it is properly maintained with services done at least as often as the owner's manual suggests, Nissan's Qashqai is a good car and will be as reliable as any other car in its class.