2021 Nissan Serena — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Nissan Serena passed 83.8% of its 530 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 10.7% of the time, so this is 5.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.7% of all tests — 7.2 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rear fog lamp, track rod end and brake pads — rear fog lamp alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.6% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 21.3% once past 120-150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 62 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 24 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.2% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 20 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.4% | 18 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.0% | 16 |
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 | 28 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 25 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 15 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 14 |
| 5 | Washers | 14 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 14 |
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 | 21.3% | 113 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.2% | 107 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.7% | 83 |
| 4 | Steering | 12.1% | 64 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 58 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.6% | 56 |
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 | 43 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 267 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 153 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 47 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 484 | 16.1% |
| Hybrid | 46 | 17.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 121 | 15.7% |
| 2023 | 118 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 88 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 88 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Serena
On a 2021 Serena, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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.
- Visibility (4.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2021 Nissan Serenas pass their MOT?
83.8% of the 530 2021 Nissan Serena MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Nissan Serena?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by tyres (4.5%).
Does the 2021 Serena get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 30-60k band to 21.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 530 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.