Nissan Serena
From 5,787 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Serenas fare better: 2021 models pass at 76.2% vs 87.7% for 2012.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning and a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 162 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 162 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 119 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 85 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 77 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 74 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated | 61 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 59 |
| front or rear fog lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 54 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 51 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 48 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 31.3% of Serena failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £79.
Fuel type matters
Hybrid versions pass at 89.9% while Diesel versions pass at 67.5%, a 22 percentage point gap.
Nissan Serena on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 66 newly registered in the past year with 46 leaving, a net gain of 20.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 394 | 499 | +15 | -8 | +7 |
| 2025 Q2 | 377 | 509 | +16 | -3 | +13 |
| 2025 Q1 | 365 | 508 | +13 | -17 | -4 |
| 2024 Q4 | 360 | 517 | +22 | -18 | +4 |
| 2024 Q3 | 354 | 519 | +21 | -11 | +10 |
| 2024 Q2 | 338 | 525 | +18 | -11 | +7 |
| 2024 Q1 | 320 | 536 | +42 | -14 | +28 |
| 2023 Q4 | 302 | 526 | +22 | -4 | +18 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76.2% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 80% | service brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2019 | 77.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2018 | 82.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
12 earlier years
| 2017 | 87.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2016 | 87.5% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 83.3% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2014 | 87.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 90.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2012 | 87.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2011 | 81.8% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2010 | 79% | an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated |
| 2009 | 82.9% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 75.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2007 | 77.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 75.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
Typical mileage
Half of all Serenas tested had between 56,423 and 93,445 miles on the clock.
At 70,817 median miles, the Serena has 0.023 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Nissan models
| Nissan Qashqai | 76.1% |
| Nissan Juke | 75.3% |
| Nissan Micra | 71.2% |
| Nissan Note | 70.9% |
| Nissan Navara | 77% |
Common questions
What is the Nissan Serena MOT pass rate?
The Nissan Serena has a 84% MOT pass rate based on 5,787 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan Serena?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan Serena is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 162 failures. Other common issues include an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Nissan Serenas are on UK roads?
There are 394 Nissan Serenas currently licensed on UK roads, with 499 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan Serena at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan Serena is 70,817 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 56,423 and 93,445 miles.
Buying a used Serena?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 84% pass rate and an average repair bill of £79 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.