2017 Nissan Serena — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 636 MOT tests, the 2017 Nissan Serena recorded a 79.1% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (13.9% fail rate), the 2017 Serena comes out 7.0pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 9.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, ball joint and position lamp — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 40 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 34.8% once past 150k — 3.4× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 21.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.0% in 2021 to 15.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 96 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.0% | 57 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 38 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 30 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 28 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.1% | 20 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 38 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 33 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 29 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 29 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
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 | 21.9% | 139 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.5% | 137 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.7% | 119 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 72 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 68 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.6% | 42 |
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 | 136 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 134 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 163 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 97 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 89 | 34.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 402 | 24.6% |
| Hybrid | 233 | 14.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 111 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 118 | 28.8% |
| 2023 | 111 | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 126 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 170 | 15.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Serena
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.0% 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 (6.0% 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 2017 Nissan Serenas pass their MOT?
79.1% of the 636 2017 Nissan Serena MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Serena?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (9.0%).
Does the 2017 Serena get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 30-60k band to 34.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 636 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.