Yamaha Serow Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha Serow car check
Is the Yamaha Serow reliable? We analysed 3,899 real MOT tests across 399 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha Serow? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha Serow is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include wheel bearings have excessive free play, wheel bearings have excessive free play and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Serow.
Yamaha Serow Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha Serow. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha Serow MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha Serow to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha Serow Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha Serow fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha Serow Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha Serow owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha Serow MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha Serow year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 88 | 92.0% | 9,589 | 15,483 | 30,126 |
| 2017 | 63 | 84.1% | 5,519 | 28,126 | 37,847 |
| 2014 | 61 | 95.1% | 15,482 | 20,782 | 31,261 |
| 2009 | 84 | 86.9% | 4,003 | 12,683 | 18,562 |
| 2008 | 97 | 93.8% | 5,680 | 12,046 | 15,180 |
| 2005 | 70 | 87.1% | 10,711 | 12,611 | 19,427 |
| 2004 | 171 | 89.5% | 13,926 | 22,702 | 27,335 |
| 2003 | 365 | 86.8% | 12,981 | 22,118 | 28,149 |
| 2002 | 345 | 88.7% | 12,390 | 18,648 | 24,580 |
| 2001 | 214 | 86.9% | 10,996 | 20,010 | 30,680 |
| 2000 | 265 | 88.7% | 9,391 | 15,915 | 22,385 |
| 1999 | 413 | 86.7% | 13,026 | 19,999 | 28,564 |
| 1998 | 339 | 86.1% | 11,774 | 17,789 | 24,026 |
| 1997 | 272 | 87.5% | 8,906 | 13,699 | 17,690 |
| 1996 | 210 | 88.1% | 15,857 | 22,954 | 33,332 |
| 1995 | 124 | 89.5% | 15,296 | 22,754 | 28,081 |
| 1993 | 53 | 84.9% | 14,689 | 26,569 | 37,555 |
| 1992 | 112 | 91.1% | 9,957 | 14,780 | 25,772 |
| 1991 | 88 | 97.7% | 17,388 | 26,732 | 34,394 |
| 1990 | 112 | 89.3% | 19,999 | 25,576 | 29,999 |
How Long Does a Yamaha Serow Last?
Based on 399 Yamaha Serow vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha Serow Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha Serow MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha Serow
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
97.7% MOT pass rate from 88 tests
84.1% MOT pass rate from 63 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha Serow is 1991, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 97.7% across 88 tests. The 2017 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha Serow Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Serow THIS CAR | 88.2% | 3,899 | 18,432 mi | 36 yrs |
| Yamaha Yzf R1 | 86.5% | 175,313 | 16,232 mi | 28 yrs |
| Yamaha FZS600 | 85% | 157,659 | 22,466 mi | 28 yrs |
| Yamaha XJR1300 | 88.8% | 107,128 | 16,836 mi | 27 yrs |
| Volvo XC40 Ultimate T5 Recharge Auto | 91.2% | 1,347 | 26,798 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Serow outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha Serow you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Yamaha SerowShould you buy a used Yamaha Serow?
The Yamaha Serow has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.2% across 3,899 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Yamaha Serow are wheel bearings have excessive free play (27 recorded failures), wheel bearings have excessive free play (18), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (18). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Yamaha Serow owner drives around 410 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Yamaha Serow models stay on UK roads for around 36 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.