Considered a crossover SUV, the Nissan Qashqai is one of the most trusted vehicles on the road. Hailing from the Japanese manufacturer, this SUV is designed to take on rugged terrains, while providing comfort and luxury. However, it does not come without issues, and you might find that your Nissan Qashqai keeps losing power.

While many issues lead to the Nissan Qashqai losing power, a clogged engine filter or air filter is often the main culprit. A clogged fuel filter could limit the fuel reaching the engine and often leads to a jerking effect or loss of power. If the issue is not dealt with, the engine could completely cut out, due to an insufficient fuel supply.

While the jerking issue on manual vehicles could often be related to poor clutch control, it is something you should check out. A professional car mechanic will be your best bet to diagnose the issue and have it fixed. Constantly losing power not only makes you a hazard on the road but could be a sign of the engine deteriorating.

Top 7 Reasons The Nissan Qashqai Keeps Losing Power

While the engine filter is often the main issue, there are plenty more reasons that could lead to the engine losing power. Understanding these issues can help you fix the issue at home or perform your own diagnostics. While we would recommend visiting a professional, here are some reasons you need to be aware of:

1.      Dirty Or Clogged Air Filter

Problem: As you drive down the road, the air filter is responsible for feeding clean air to the engine. It serves as a catalyst to remove dust and dirt particles that could potentially harm the engine. However, the filter only has a limited lifespan. The accumulation of dirt and dust could lead to the air filter being clogged.

In severe cases, the air filter can be extremely clogged and this will severely suffocate the engine. Not only does it lead to increased fuel consumption, but a severely clogged air filter can potentially lead to engine stalling.

Solution: Fortunately, the fix is simple and does not require any special skills or knowledge. You simply need to remove the air filter and replace it with a brand new one.

2.      Dirty Or Clogged Fuel Filter

Problem: A fuel filter is one of the critical filters on your Nissan Qashqai. Once it gets clogged, the filter does not enable enough fuel to reach the engine. The engine will sense this and the control unit in your Qashqai will activate the “check engine light”. Once you connect a scanner to the engine, you might see the error code P0087.

Solution: The most common solution would be simply replacing the fuel filter on your Nissan Qashqai. Much like the air filter, it is not something strenuous. You don’t need a professional mechanic to assist you. You should be able to do this at home.

3.      Faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF)

Problem: The MAF is one of the essential parts of your vehicle. It is part of the engine intake system, and it is responsible for reducing pollutant emissions from your car. The unit is found between the throttle valve and the air filter and could lead to excessive loss of power.

Since the MAF is responsible for communicating with the engine and relaying the optimal amount of fuel to be sent to the engine, you can see how a dirty or faulty MAF could cause power loss. A faulty sensor could send too little fuel to the engine, which leads to a loss of power. Fortunately, it should illuminate the engine warning light.

Solution: While you can remove and clean the MAF at home, it is not often recommended. The sensor is very sensitive to touch and can easily damage. Additionally, older vehicles might not have the sensor, and the control unit uses the MAP sensor to determine how much fuel needs to flow. It is best to have a professional give you some assistance when fixing a faulty MAF sensor.

4.      Dirt In The Throttle Body

Problem: The throttle body is exactly what the name would suggest. It communicates with the throttle pedal. It is responsible for regulating the air to your ICE (Internal Combustion Engine). Some suggestions have shown that at around 70,000 miles, the dirt passing through the air filter can build up and cause issues with the throttle body. Without the right airflow regulation, you could find your vehicle struggling with acceleration and even stalling.

Solution: Once again, this is not one of the worst things to happen. It might not illuminate the engine warning light, but it is something you can fix at home. Once you have located the throttle body, you need to clean it. However, checking the air filter is also essential.

5.      Malfunction Of The Fuel Pump

Problem: The fuel pump is an expensive part of your Nissan Qashqai, and you need to make sure it is the issue before replacing it. If the fuel pump is malfunctioning, it could lead to fuel being pumped to the engine at a decreasing rate. Leaks and contamination in the fuel pump are often the main causes of this issue and will illuminate the warning light on your dashboard.

Solution: If this is your issue, your best bet would be to replace the fuel pump. However, these pumps can be expensive, and you might need to make sure. It is often best to have a professional look at the fuel pump to potentially save you from buying something overly expensive.

6.      Ignition Coils And Spark Plug Issues

Problem: The spark plug and ignition coils are some of the cheaper components on your Qashqai and will need replacing. If a faulty spark plug does not create enough of a spark, it will heavily influence the performance of your engine. You will notice a reduction in power output and possible fuel consumption increases. The ignition coil amplifies the low voltage from the battery and could lead to poor sparking.

Solution: These are some of the more affordable components you need to replace. They can be replaced at home, and you only need to diagnose the issue. You will need to have some knowledge of a worn spark plug and a new spark plug to determine if this is the issue.

7.      Clogged Fuel Injectors

Problem: The fuel injectors are a critical part of the vehicle, which deliver fuel to the engine. Over time, these injectors might become clogged. The build-up of hydrocarbons and other elements found in the fuel could create dirt that sticks to the filters. This leads to the injectors not delivering fuel to the combustion chamber at the right pressure. A drop in performance is noticeable.

Solution: Using fuel additives could significantly improve the behavior of the injector. It is a cheap and effective way of making sure you clean the fuel injectors and dissolve any of the extra dirt that has built up. Keep in mind that the wrong injector cleaner might damage your oxygen sensor.

Bottom Line

The most common reasons your Nissan Qashqai keeps losing power are often simple and easy to diagnose. With some basic skills and knowledge of the combustion engine, you should be able to locate most of these components. If you have checked all of these minor components, you might want to visit a mechanic.

Keep in mind that you don’t want to leave these issues for too long. While they might seem minor on paper, these issues can lead to expensive damage to your vehicle. They might even damage your engine, which can be very expensive to replace.

FAQs

Why Does My Nissan Qashqai Keep Stalling When I Accelerate?

The main issue causing the Nissan Qashqai to stall when accelerating is fuel delivery issues. There can be a variety of reasons for issues with the fuel. However, an issue with delivering fuel to the internal combustion engine is often at fault. You might need to look at the fuel pump or fuel injector to begin your search.

Does The Check Engine Light On My Nissan Qashqai Come On When I Lose Power?

The engine warning light on your Nissan Qashqai is a good indication that something is wrong. In most cases, it might not be severe at first, but ignoring minor issues could lead to expensive damage. You must tend to the engine as soon as possible to avoid paying, even more, when one problem leads to another.

How Do I Get My Nissan Qashqai Out Of Limp Mode?

Once a critical problem is detected by the On-Board Diagnostics system, your vehicle might go into limp mode. The limp mode will prevent further damage to the transmission and the engine. While you might need an OBD-II scanner to check the codes and determine the issue, you should find a safe place to pull off the road.

Once parked, you need to turn off the engine. Leave it off for at least 60-seconds before turning the engine back on again. The engine should be working now, but if it does go into limp mode again, your vehicle should be diagnosed with an OBD-II scanner.

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