Yamaha Serrow Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Yamaha Serrow car check
Is the Yamaha Serrow reliable? We analysed 1,397 real MOT tests across 107 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Yamaha Serrow? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Yamaha Serrow is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include wheel bearings have excessive free play, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha Serrow.
Yamaha Serrow Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Yamaha Serrow. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Yamaha Serrow MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Yamaha Serrow to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Yamaha Serrow Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Yamaha Serrow fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Yamaha Serrow Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Yamaha Serrow owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Yamaha Serrow MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha Serrow year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 103 | 86.4% | 6,364 | 14,536 | 27,397 |
| 2003 | 163 | 89.0% | 5,823 | 11,734 | 24,592 |
| 2002 | 93 | 84.9% | 19,985 | 26,348 | 28,034 |
| 2001 | 107 | 84.1% | 20,530 | 31,265 | 39,422 |
| 2000 | 108 | 90.7% | 24,254 | 31,716 | 41,339 |
| 1999 | 157 | 85.4% | 14,678 | 20,954 | 37,563 |
| 1998 | 107 | 79.4% | 9,426 | 15,868 | 54,150 |
| 1997 | 60 | 85.0% | 10,573 | 18,544 | 21,112 |
| 1996 | 102 | 88.2% | 13,869 | 23,328 | 45,870 |
| 1995 | 68 | 88.2% | 10,096 | 12,632 | 16,999 |
| 1994 | 78 | 84.6% | 9,418 | 12,162 | 21,115 |
| 1990 | 51 | 82.4% | 22,234 | 25,096 | 29,248 |
How Long Does a Yamaha Serrow Last?
Based on 107 Yamaha Serrow vehicles on UK roads.
Yamaha Serrow Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha Serrow 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 Serrow
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
90.7% MOT pass rate from 108 tests
79.4% MOT pass rate from 107 tests
The best year to buy a used Yamaha Serrow is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.7% across 108 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Yamaha Serrow Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Serrow THIS CAR | 86.5% | 1,397 | 20,835 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 |
| Skoda Fabia SE Drive MPI | 88.8% | 1,414 | 18,118 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha Serrow sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Yamaha Serrow 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 SerrowShould you buy a used Yamaha Serrow?
The Yamaha Serrow has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.5% across 1,397 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 Serrow are wheel bearings have excessive free play (9 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (8), and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (5). 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 Serrow owner drives around 420 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 Serrow 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.