CarVerify

Free Car Check

J38 TNE

2003 Toyota Sera

Blue Petrol 1490cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Mar 2027
Tests24 (15 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

109,600 mi
Last recorded109,600 miles
Recorded on20 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 Toyota Sera126,203 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Toyota
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ38 TNE
MakeToyota
ModelSera
Year2003
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,490cc
View full Toyota Sera reliability data

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

15 pass 9 fail
Pass 20 Mar 2026 109,600 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement o/s and n/s (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing o/s and n/s cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp o/s and n/s (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play o/s and n/s (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust flanges corroded

Fail 16 Mar 2026 109,599 miles

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has negligible damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Rear Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement o/s and n/s (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively o/s and n/s blued (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing o/s and n/s cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp o/s and n/s (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play o/s and n/s (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust flanges corroded

Pass 4 Mar 2025 108,984 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement o/s and n/s (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded filler pipes ()

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp all o/s and n/s (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play o/s and n/s (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust flange heavily corroded

Fail 4 Mar 2025 108,984 miles

Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement o/s and n/s (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded filler pipes ()

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp all o/s and n/s (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play o/s and n/s (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust flange heavily corroded

Rear Stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released o/s and n/s (4.3.2 (a) (iii))

Pass 19 Mar 2024 108,455 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fuel filler neck pipes corroded

Rear All position lamps slightly affected by the operation of another lamp Both sides (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both sides cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play Both sides (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust fragile/corroded

Fail 18 Mar 2024 108,455 miles

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fuel filler neck pipes corroded

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output Both sides clouding (4.1.4 (b))

Rear All position lamps slightly affected by the operation of another lamp Both sides (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both sides cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play Both sides (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust fragile/corroded

Pass 2 Mar 2023 107,634 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp o/s and n/s (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing o/s and n/s cracking treads (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play o/s and n/s (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust flange heavily corroded

Fail 1 Mar 2023 107,634 miles

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Position lamp slightly affected by the operation of another lamp o/s and n/s (4.2.3 (c))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing o/s and n/s cracking treads (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Wheel bearing has slight play o/s and n/s (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Rear exhaust flange heavily corroded

Pass 9 Mar 2022 106,920 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule all flexible brake hoses have corrosion to ferrules (1.1.12 (f) (i))

surface corrosion to suspension components

Fail 1 Mar 2022 106,814 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn badly corroded and pitted with slight binding (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect no beam image (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule all flexible brake hoses have corrosion to ferrules (1.1.12 (f) (i))

surface corrosion to suspension components

Pass 25 Feb 2021 106,340 miles

surface corrosion to under side and suspension components

Fail 25 Feb 2021 106,329 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

surface corrosion to under side and suspension components

Pass 25 Feb 2020 105,784 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2020 105,778 miles

Nearside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 1 Mar 2019 105,513 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2018 105,194 miles

Nearside Front tyre perished and splitting

all brake flexi-hoses have corrosion to ferrules

fuel tank filler neck has bad surface corrosion

Fail 26 Feb 2018 105,191 miles

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect no image (1.8.A.1b)

Stop lamp not working all lamps (1.2.1b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front tyre perished and splitting

all brake flexi-hoses have corrosion to ferrules

fuel tank filler neck has bad surface corrosion

Pass 2 Mar 2017 104,757 miles

boot lid catch sticking

Pass 16 Feb 2016 104,601 miles
Fail 16 Feb 2016 104,601 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 31 Oct 2009 104,445 miles
Pass 1 Nov 2008 104,262 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2007 103,719 miles
Pass 14 Oct 2006 103,088 miles

How Reliable is the Toyota Sera?

Based on 4,064 MOT tests across 356 vehicles.

67.8%
Pass Rate
2,968
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
356
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Steering rack gaiter split 222
fog lamp not working 140
position lamp(s) not working 133
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 124
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 102
Full Toyota Sera reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

J38 TNE is a 2003 Toyota Sera in Blue with a 1,490cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 2003 Toyota Sera models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.9% with a typical mileage of 126,203 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Toyota Sera fails its MOT is steering rack gaiter split, accounting for 222 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J38 TNE, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Toyota Sera typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 23 years old, this Toyota Sera is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J38 TNE?

You can check the full history of J38 TNE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J38 TNE registered?

J38 TNE is a 2003 Toyota Sera, first registered on 21 October 2003.

Is J38 TNE safe to buy?

The MOT history for J38 TNE shows 24 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J38 TNE have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on J38 TNE. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.