GC27 · GFC27 · GNC27 · GFNC27 · HC27 · HFC27
Nissan Serena C27 import check
GC27 is the factory model code for the Nissan Serena C27, built for the Japanese market from 2016 to 2022. Other versions carry GFC27, GNC27, GFNC27, HC27 and HFC27. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as GC27-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
GC27 at a glance
- Model code
- GC27
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Serena (C27)
- Body
- MPV
- Built
- 2016 to 2022
- Engine
- MR20DD (1997 cc mild hybrid (S-Hybrid) hybrid)
- Drivetrain
- FWD
- Japanese trims
- X, G, Highway Star, Highway Star V, e-Power, e-Power Highway Star, Autech
- Chassis number format
- GC27-nnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the GC27 chassis code
- G marks the 2.0 S-Hybrid and H the e-Power, where a 1.2 petrol engine only charges the battery and an electric motor drives the wheels. N adds four-wheel drive.
- The earlier Serena is the C26.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| GC27 | Serena (C27) | MR20DD | 2016–2022 |
| GFC27 | S-Hybrid, other gradesNot yet confirmed | MR20DD | 2016–2022 |
| GNC27 | S-Hybrid, four-wheel drive | MR20DD | 2016–2022 |
| GFNC27 | S-Hybrid, four-wheel drive, other gradesNot yet confirmed | MR20DD | 2016–2022 |
| HC27 | e-Power, from 2018 | HR12DE | 2018–2022 |
| HFC27 | e-Power, other gradesNot yet confirmed | HR12DE | 2018–2022 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine GC27?
An e-Power Serena must be HC27 or HFC27. Its engine is only 1.2 litres, so a V5C showing about 1,198 cc is correct.
If you paste the advert into the free check, we compare its wording with the chassis code. An advert that says “Serena e-Power” on a car whose chassis code isn’t HC27 and HFC27 gets flagged.
Known problems to check on a GC27
- CVT judder on S-Hybrid cars: check it pulls away smoothly and ask when the fluid was changed
- Power sliding door and tailgate motors, cables and catches: run each one through a full open and close
- ProPILOT driver-assist camera faults after a windscreen replacement
- Japanese-market radio and sat-nav need a band expander or replacement in the UK
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- On an e-Power, the engine starting and stopping on its own is normal
- Ask whether the speedometer has been converted to mph, and when, so the MOT mileages make sense
The GC27 on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car セレナ (Serena), with e-POWER for e-Power cars.
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the GC27 family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Nissan Serena
- 25% of 5,583 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 23% lower than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge (13% of tests).
- Most common failure: Position lamp: not working (3.6% of tests).
The Serena was sold new in the UK until 2001, so older cars may not be imports.
All Nissan Serena MOT statisticsFrom DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
A GC27 sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
What we haven’t confirmed yet
We only state what we’re confident of. We haven’t yet checked these points about the Nissan Serena C27 against a second source, so treat them with care:
- What the F in GFC27, GFNC27 and HFC27 marks. It is reported to be the Highway Star body.
Know the answer? Email [email protected].
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Nissan Serena C27?
GC27, with GFC27, GNC27, GFNC27, HC27 and HFC27 for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Nissan Serena C27 has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the GC27 built?
From 2016 to 2022, with the MR20DD (1997 cc mild hybrid (S-Hybrid) hybrid) engine and FWD layout.
What should I check when buying a GC27?
CVT judder on S-Hybrid cars: check it pulls away smoothly and ask when the fluid was changed. Power sliding door and tailgate motors, cables and catches: run each one through a full open and close. ProPILOT driver-assist camera faults after a windscreen replacement. Japanese-market radio and sat-nav need a band expander or replacement in the UK. On an e-Power, the engine starting and stopping on its own is normal. Ask whether the speedometer has been converted to mph, and when, so the MOT mileages make sense. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.