2012 Nissan Serena — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Nissan Serena passed 84.8% of its 947 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2012 Serena comes out 9.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.0% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, position lamp and track rod end — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 51 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.3% versus 10.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.7% of tests failed in 2022 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 104 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 44 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.6% | 34 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 30 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.8% | 26 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.4% | 23 |
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 | 51 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 50 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 35 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 6 | Wipers | 23 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 19.5% | 185 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 149 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.7% | 139 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.9% | 65 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 54 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.1% | 39 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 191 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 519 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 20.9% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 600 | 15.8% |
| Hybrid | 338 | 14.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 88 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 222 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 293 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 321 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Serena
On a 2012 Serena, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (3.6% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Nissan Serenas pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 947 2012 Nissan Serena MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Serena?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2012 Serena get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 947 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.