Nissan Serena (1991)
1991 Nissan Serena
CarHunch analysed 170 real MOT records for the 1991 Nissan Serena. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1991 Nissan Serena's 65.7% first-time pass rate sits well below the UK average of 80%, signalling that these nearly 35-year-old vehicles demand serious scrutiny before purchase. With 11.8% having experienced dangerous defects, this isn't a catastrophic concern, but it's a reminder that pre-purchase inspections are essential.
These Serenas are running high mileage for their age at an average of 136,000 miles, yet they're averaging 1.72 failures per test—a genuine reliability worry compounded by 3.7 advisories per vehicle that suggest accumulated wear across multiple systems. If you're considering one, budget for immediate remedial work and treat any MOT history without failures as a genuine rarity worth paying slightly more for.
What to check before buying a 1991 Nissan Serena
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Nissan Serena
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (89%) | 152 | 65% | 1.76 |
| Petrol (11%) | 18 | 71.7% | 1.33 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1991 Nissan Serena vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1991 Nissan Serena vehicles fall between 107,455 and 164,860 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1991 Nissan Serena
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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32.5%
Oil leak
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24.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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21.2%
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine
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20.5%
Offside Rear fog lamp not working
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19.9%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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18.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.2%
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working
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11.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Nissan Serena?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.