Nissan Serena MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 36 model years and 12,680 tests, the Nissan Serena passes its MOT 82.6% of the time. Against MPVs of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the Serena comes out 4.9pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests against 5.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 749 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.1% in the 0-30k band and 25.9% in the 150k+ band, a 14.9-point spread — more than double.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 10.5% fail against 18.8% for petrol, a 8.3-point gap across 12,188 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Serena model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 88 | 64.8% | 35.2% | Suspension |
| 1996 | 93 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Suspension |
| 1997 | 85 | 63.5% | 36.5% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 64 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 127 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 117 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 46 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 78 | 70.5% | 29.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 36 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 108 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 191 | 72.3% | 27.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 337 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 588 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 832 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 1,004 | 83.5% | 16.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 1,335 | 83.4% | 16.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 769 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 947 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 1,225 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 655 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 522 | 85.4% | 14.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 430 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 636 | 79.1% | 20.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 524 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 739 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 494 | 81.6% | 18.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 530 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 1,601 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 683 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.4% | 561 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 500 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 486 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.4% | 308 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 259 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 194 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear fog lamp | 749 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 452 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 441 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 372 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 359 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 355 |
| 7 | Wipers | 330 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 293 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 20.7% | 2,627 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.2% | 2,438 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.2% | 2,305 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 1,197 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,174 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.3% | 1,047 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 199 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,339 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 4,985 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,970 | 21.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,255 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 918 | 25.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,412 | 18.8% |
| Hybrid | 2,776 | 10.5% |
| Diesel | 462 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,691 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 2,065 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 2,449 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 2,943 | 16.6% |
| 2025 | 3,532 | 17.0% |
What to check before buying a Nissan Serena
- Lighting & signalling (12.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (4.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Serena?
82.6% of the 12,680 Nissan Serena MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.4% fail rate, across model years 1990–2025.
What does the Nissan Serena most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.6% of tests, then suspension (5.4%).
How much does mileage affect Serena MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.9% for 150k+, a 14.9-point difference.
Is the hybrid or petrol Serena more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 10.5% of the time against 18.8% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,680 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.