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Nissan Serena reliability
The Nissan Serena fails its MOT less often than most cars over 10 years old: 26.4% of 1,210 tests failed in 2023, against 39.7% on average.
Up to 5 years old
29.1% failed their MOT
From 409 MOT tests of Nissan Serenas this age. A small sample, so take it as a rough guide: a few cars either way can move these figures.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 34× as oftenFront and rear fog lamps6.8% vs 0.2%Fix about £30
Fails 3× as oftenMechanical brake components4.9% vs 1.8%
Fails 38% more oftenTyre condition4.4% vs 3.2%Fix about £90
Fails 17× as oftenSteering linkage components3.4% vs 0.2%
Advised 90% more oftenMechanical brake components23% vs 12.1%
Advised 108× as oftenHeadlamps10.8% vs 0.1%Fix about £30
Advised 35× as oftenSteering linkage components10.5% vs 0.3%
Advised 11× as oftenSuspension arms10.5% vs 1%
6 to 10 years old
19.6% failed their MOT
From 499 MOT tests of Nissan Serenas this age. A small sample, so take it as a rough guide: a few cars either way can move these figures.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 14× as oftenFront and rear fog lamps5.8% vs 0.4%Fix about £30
Fails 73% more oftenPosition lamps2.6% vs 1.5%Fix about £30
Fails 64% more oftenSteering linkage components1.8% vs 1.1%
Fails 67% more oftenExhaust system1% vs 0.6%Fix about £150
Advised 66% more oftenSuspension arms8.8% vs 5.3%
Advised 3× as oftenSteering linkage components4.2% vs 1.3%
Over 10 years old
26.4% failed their MOT
From 1,210 MOT tests of Nissan Serenas this age.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 7× as oftenFront and rear fog lamps6.9% vs 1%Fix about £30
Fails 36% more oftenComponent mounting prescribed areas1.9% vs 1.4%
Fails 38% more oftenElectrical equipment1.1% vs 0.8%
Advised 3× as oftenSteering linkage components7.3% vs 2.8%
Safety recalls
1 DVSA recall for the Nissan Serena
Most cover a batch of cars built in a set period, and dealers fix them free. Sweep’s check shows the recalls for a car’s age and whether the DVSA has one outstanding.
R/1993/05511 Oct 1993Built 1992–1993Possible misapplication of parking brake
Insufficient clearance between the ratchet internal mechanism and the handbrake lever sideplates may lead to misapplication of the parking brake resulting in the vehicle not being held.
Fix: Recall the affected vehicle for replacement of the original handbrake lever with a revised version.
Recalled models: SERENA · 1,542 vehicles
DVSA vehicle safety recalls (Crown copyright, Open Government Licence).
Checking a Nissan Serena before you buy
Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2023 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Failure rates compare this model with all cars in the same age band. Fix prices are typical independent-garage estimates.