MPV and people carrier · 1996–2021 cars
Nissan Serena reliability
The Nissan Serena fails 21.3% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 8,557 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Nissan Serena before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 21.3%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 33% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 8,557
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 12,900
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Nissan Serena ages
Each point is the share of Nissan Serenas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Nissan Serena | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 28.3% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 30.6% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 24.4% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 26% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 16.8% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 16.8% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 18.6% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 10% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 13.6% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 21.5% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 23% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 26% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 27.8% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 33.1% | 42.9% |
By year
The best and worst Nissan Serena years
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 425 | 24.2% | 13% more fails | 96,654 |
| 2018 | 416 | 27.9% | 39% more fails | 65,754 |
| 2017 | 494 | 22.3% | 1% more fails | 74,454 |
| 2016 | 285 | 22.5% | 9% fewer fails | 79,893 |
| 2015 | 358 | 21.2% | 22% fewer fails | 75,155 |
| 2014 | 567 | 14.1% | 52% fewer fails | 69,063 |
| 2013 Serena | 1,353 | 11.4% | 64% fewer fails | 68,310 |
| 2012 | 899 | 13.8% | 58% fewer fails | 69,177 |
| 2011 | 597 | 20.9% | 41% fewer fails | 71,755 |
| 2010 | 899 | 23.6% | 36% fewer fails | 72,085 |
| 2009 | 625 | 21.1% | 43% fewer fails | 68,279 |
| 2008 | 499 | 31.3% | 21% fewer fails | 80,241 |
| 2007 | 323 | 31.6% | 25% fewer fails | 92,262 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Nissan Serena
Its weak spot is steering: 10% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics12.3%7% below avg
- Suspension5%53% below avg
- Brakes3.9%48% below avg
- Tyres3.6%45% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.5%31% below avg
- Steering2.3%10% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure1.7%55% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.5%57% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.1%7% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 2.19% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Rear fog lamp not working 2.09% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.65% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.43% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.22% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Obligatory rear fog lamp missing 1.22% of tests
A rear fog lamp the car must have is missing, so it is illegal to drive until one is fitted.
- 7
Rear fog lamp not steady red 1.02% of tests
A rear fog lamp that is not steady red can confuse following drivers, so the bulb or wiring needs checking.
- 8
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.01% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Serena's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit8.22%
- Brake pads wearing thin7.04%
- Brake disc pitted or scored4.85%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.76%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.27%
- Slight play in steering rack joints2.77%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Nissan Serena
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Nissan Serena covers about 12,900 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol68.3%
- Hybrid29.3%
- Diesel2.2%
- Electric0.1%
- Other0%
Most common colours
White, Black, Silver, Purple, Blue
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Nissan Serena compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Vellfire | 11% | 66% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda Stepwagon | 23% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Serena | 21.3% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chrysler PT Cruiser | 46.1% | 13% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Spacetourer | 21.4% | 33% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Berlingo Multispace | 25% | 54% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SsangYong Rodius | 38.5% | 65% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Nissan models.
Questions
Nissan Serena questions, answered
Is the Nissan Serena reliable?
On MOT results, the Nissan Serena is better than average: it fails 21.3% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 6 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.
What fails most on a Nissan Serena MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Serena are position lamp not working (2.19% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (2.09% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.65% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 12.3% of its tests.
How many miles does a Nissan Serena do a year?
A typical Nissan Serena covers about 12,900 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Nissan Serena before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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