2018 Nissan Serena — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 524 MOT tests, the 2018 Nissan Serena recorded an 80.0% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (12.6% fail rate), the 2018 Serena comes out 7.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.1% of all tests — 8.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, headlamp aim and brake pads — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 45 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.6% versus 11.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.9% in 2021 to 11.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 74 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.0% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 20 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.2% | 17 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.2% | 17 |
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 | 45 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 22 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 20 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 17 |
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 | 22.7% | 119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.3% | 101 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.6% | 87 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.4% | 65 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 61 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.4% | 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 | 127 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 106 | 25.5% |
| 120-150k | 58 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 63 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 381 | 22.8% |
| Hybrid | 143 | 12.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 89 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 98 | 25.5% |
| 2024 | 114 | 21.1% |
| 2025 | 149 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Serena
On a 2018 Serena, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
- Suspension (5.0% 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.
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 2018 Nissan Serenas pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 524 2018 Nissan Serena MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan Serena?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by brakes (5.5%).
Does the 2018 Serena get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 30-60k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 524 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.