2016 Nissan Serena — MOT failures & pass rate
430 MOT tests on the 2016 Nissan Serena are in this dataset, and 86.3% of them passed. That is 2.2 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 15.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, tread depth and headlamp aim — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 20 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.2% in the 30-60k band and 29.5% in the 150k+ band, a 27.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 46 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 18 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 12 |
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 | 20 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 11 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 9 |
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 | 21.4% | 92 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.4% | 79 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.3% | 66 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 37 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 34 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.7% | 16 |
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 | 90 | 2.2% |
| 60-90k | 137 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 92 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 45 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 29.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 247 | 18.6% |
| Hybrid | 169 | 5.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 74 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 80 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 86 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 128 | 9.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Serena
On a 2016 Serena, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (4.2% 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
How many 2016 Nissan Serenas pass their MOT?
86.3% of the 430 2016 Nissan Serena MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Serena?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2016 Serena get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.2% in the 30-60k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 430 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.