Citroen Nemo Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Citroen Nemo fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 26,403 MOT tests across 11 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
74%
Citroen Nemo pass rate
79%
Citroen average
82%
All-model average
The Citroen Nemo has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, which is 5 points below the Citroen average and 8 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Citroen Nemos pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 3 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Citroen Nemo Fails Its MOT On
Of the 5,326 MOT tests on the Citroen Nemo that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
51%Cars and vans the same age: 37% (the Nemo fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
44%Cars and vans the same age: 41% · Typical repair £15-£200
Tyres
21%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £50-£300
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
20%Cars and vans the same age: 14% (the Nemo fails on this more often) · Typical repair £10-£350
Brakes
15%Cars and vans the same age: 23% (the Nemo fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (21% of failed tests, suspension)
- Shock absorber bush excessively worn (12% of failed tests, suspension)
- Position lamp: not working (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Citroen Nemo Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Nemo year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Citroen Nemo Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Diesel | 1.2L | 77% | 21% | - |
| 2017 | Diesel | 1.2L | 77% | 22% | - |
| 2016 | Diesel | 1.2L | 75% | 24% | 86% (-11) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 1.2L | 76% | 23% | 84% (-8) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 1.4L | 75% | 25% | 82% (-7) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.4L | 74% | 25% | 80% (-6) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 1.2L | 75% | 24% | 79% (-4) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 1.4L | 74% | 26% | 77% (-3) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 1.4L | 72% | 27% | 75% (-3) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 1.4L | 71% | 28% | 75% (-4) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 1.4L | 70% | 29% | - |
Citroen Nemo Running Costs
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Citroen Nemo FAQ
What are the most common Citroen Nemo problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Citroen Nemo that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (51% of the 5,326 failed tests), lights and electrics (44%) and tyres (21%). The single most common fault was "Coil spring: fractured or broken" (21%). Across 26,403 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 74% ended in a pass.
Is the Citroen Nemo reliable?
The Citroen Nemo has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, from 26,403 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 5 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Citroen Nemo years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2016 (75% of 1,905 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars), the 2015 (76% of 3,242 tests passed, against 84% for all 2015 cars) and the 2014 (75% of 3,069 tests passed, against 82% for all 2014 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Citroen Nemo faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Citroen Nemo typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Citroen Models
Common problems pages for other Citroen models