2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Nissan Serena MOT pass rate and common faults

241 MOT tests in 2024. 80.5% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

125Well above average
Passed first time80.5%
Failed or needed repairs19.5%
Typical mileage at test72,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 241 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rear fog lamp: missing3.3%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.3%
  3. Track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
    6 marked dangerous
  5. Rear fog lamp - switch: missing1.7%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.7%
  7. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
    10 marked dangerous
  8. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.2%
  9. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics19.9%
  2. Tyres5.0%
  3. Suspension3.7%
  4. Steering3.3%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.3%
  6. Brakes2.1%
  7. Emissions & leaks0.8%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.9%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick13.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.1%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened4.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rear fog lamp: missing. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Nissan Serena?

In 2024, 80.5% of 2012 Nissan Serena cars passed their MOT first time, across 241 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Nissan Serena?

The most common failure reasons were rear fog lamp: missing; position lamp: not working; track rod end: ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Nissan Serena reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 125, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).