Between 2013 and 2018, the Nissan Qashqai was available with the 1.2L turbocharged engine called 1.2 DIG-T or HRA2DDT. Although the engine is very small for such a vehicle, it proved to be much more reliable than expected.
If you are looking for a used Qashqai and are wondering if the engine is OK, or maybe you own such a car and want to know more about the engine, this article will obviously help you.
So, the HRA2DDT engine is basically the Renault 1.2 TCe codenamed H5Ft. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information about this engine online, so I will try to tell you everything I know about it.
What should you know about the 1.2 DIG-T engine in the Qashqai?
This engine was used in the Qashqai, Juke, and also Pulsar up to 2018. Although a lot of people love it for good power and torque and overall good reliability, the engine comes with its own set of common problems that I will tell you about later in this article.
Even though the displacement is just 1.2 liters, the engine has 4 cylinders unlike many other competitors on the market with 3 cylinders and significantly more common issues. On the side of engineering, this is a relatively simple engine with nothing extremely expensive or hard to repair. As opposed to the 1.3L or 1.5L hybrid engines available in the new-gen Qashqai.
Here are some facts to know:
- this is the 4-cylinder 1.2-liter petrol engine with a turbocharger, it offers 115 horsepower and 190 Nm of torque in the Qashqai;
- the head and block are aluminum, of course, there are no hydraulic lifters in the head, so the valves will need manual adjustment;
- the camshafts are driven by the chain – it’s not that bad but is still unlikely to last the entire life of the engine;
- both camshafts are fitted with phasers which allows the valve timing to be adjusted to the driving conditions;
- in different markets, this engine was offered with a good 6-speed manual transmission or alternatively with a not-so-good CVT;
- perfect fuel economy was marketed at 6.9L/100 km in the city and 4.9L/100 km on highways (41-57 MPG UK).
Of course, you may achieve such gas mileage only in case you drive the Nissan in perfect conditions and accelerate slowly. In real life though, the fuel economy is still perfect for an SUV. I would say, the figures on the dash will look like hybrid consumption.
I strongly recommend against the CVT version. The Nissan CVT is known to be problematic. Its expected lifespan is just 100,000 miles or 160,000 kilometers and these transmissions are hard to repair.
Even though it is a very small engine under the hood of the SUV, the 1.2L turbo machine is capable of good acceleration and confident driving in almost any condition. Of course, you will need to rev it up sometimes to get proper torque and power.
How long will the 1.2L engine last in your Qashqai?
This is a difficult question as we all have our own habits of maintenance and driving. In good condition and with proper maintenance, the 1.2 DIG-T engine in the Qashqai should last about 130,000 miles or 200,000 kilometers.
Yes, it’s not a lot if you compare it with some old super-simple big-displacement engine. But for this relatively cheap and small engine, it’s a good result.
If you have a CVT-powered Nissan SUV, you will need to repair or replace the transmission once within the lifespan of the engine.
Also, there are 1.2L engines that have passed much more miles than stated above. Usually, those are used primarily on highways at low speeds and aren’t loaded with aggressive driving, towing, etc. So, it’s possible to prolong the life of this engine and we’ll talk about that later.
What are the common problems with the 1.2L turbo engine in the Qashqai?
Well, it’s hard to imagine that such an engine wouldn’t have a certain list of common issues happening with it from time to time. I still want to say that the 1.2 DIG-T engine is pretty reliable and you won’t spend a lot of your time in dealerships and garages with it.
But still, some issues are worth learning about:
1. Software problems in the early years
The early model years were really bad in terms of software. It wasn’t stable, it malfunctioned constantly and dealers offered several software updates. Eventually, the problems were solved and only 2013-2015 engines are known to have this issue.
But if your Qashqai didn’t get an update, you may experience electronics failing and a car freaking out at any moment. Maybe, you may want to check for any available updates in the dealership during the next regular maintenance.
2. Oil consumption
These engines are notorious for monstrous oil consumption. Dealers have to lie and tell their clients that 1 liter every 1000 kilometers is OK. No, in such small engines, this is not OK. It means that the valve seals and/or piston rings are faulty and initially defective.
I know some low-mileage 1.2L Qashqai engines that have been burning oil since day one and things are getting worse. Unfortunately, there is no remedy for this since ring replacement will cost you more than this engine is worth.
3. Intake valves contamination
This is the direct injection engine and you will obviously have to clean the valves from time to time. You better avoid waiting till the engine shows unstable idling RPMs or low power issues. Once a year, take a good valve cleaning solution and use it.
Otherwise, the intake valves may be covered by carbon buildup heavily and you will need to pay for professional cleaning. This includes a lot of labor, so the price for such work is very high.
4. Weak timing chain
Although the manufacturer says the chain is made to live forever, it won’t. I spoke to a dealership mechanic and he told me that, on average, 1.2L engines require chain kit replacement at about 150,000 kilometers or 90,000 miles. But there were cases with a much earlier chain replacement.
You will hear a slight rattle if the timing chain is about to die. But still, it’s better to check the chain at 100,000 kilometers (60,000 miles) and verify it’s optimally stretched and doesn’t look worn out.
If the chain breaks or jumps, the engine is most likely done and will need replacement.
5. Crankcase ventilation pipe issues
These engines have a defective seal in the crankcase ventilation pipe. The seal may be blown one day and the engine will start working harshly. This is not an expensive problem but it’s not so easy to diagnose. This thing is worth checking anytime you have uneven idling, harsh engine work, or some strange sounds from under the hood.
How can you prolong the life of the 1.2L Qashqai engine?
The HRA2DDT engine is not bad at all and it can live quite long if it’s maintained well. You should use exactly the oil the Nissan recommends. Choose the oil not just by viscosity standards – use recommended codes or just buy OEM oil and filters.
Also, you should remember to do the following:
- check the timing chain at 100,000 kilometers of 60,000 miles and then check it once every 30,000 kilometers (20,000 miles);
- don’t ignore minor issues – engine rattling or excessive vibrations may mean some minor problems that easily grow into bigger ones;
- don’t drive aggressively – this is the small tender engine that is made for calm driving styles;
- don’t rev it up too high – this engine loves burning oil, so high revs will make things worse, try keeping it normally under 3000-3500 RPM;
- if you have the automatic transmission (CVT), have it checked at 150,000 kilometers or 90,000 miles and be careful with it.
I don’t recommend towing anything at all with this engine, especially if it’s equipped with the CVT. Also, payload should be considered. One more thing is warming up. Give this engine at least 1 minute of idling before you start driving.
Do you have experience with the 1.2L DIG-T engine in the Qashqai? Please share it in the comments below and let others know more!
