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Citroen Nemo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Citroen Nemo car check

Is the Citroen Nemo reliable? We analysed 279,608 real MOT tests across 21,949 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 279,608 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.2%
Typical Mileage
76,392mi
Annual Mileage
6,728mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
18yrs

The Citroen Nemo is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen Nemo.

Citroen Nemo Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Citroen Nemo. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Citroen Nemo MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Citroen Nemo to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

76.7%
2018
75.8%
2017
74.4%
2016
73.6%
2015
73.5%
2014
72.7%
2013
72.8%
2012
73.3%
2011
71.9%
2010
71.1%
2009
68.7%
2008

Citroen Nemo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Citroen Nemo fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,767
coil spring broken 4,011
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 3,587
Registration plate lamp not working 3,207
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,035

Citroen Nemo Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Citroen Nemo models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 6,344

Citroen Nemo Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Citroen Nemo owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,774 mi/yr
Typical
6,728 mi/yr
Average
8,571 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,080 mi/yr

Citroen Nemo MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen Nemo year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2018 1,238 76.7% 24,410 45,184 76,784
2017 4,478 75.8% 32,659 54,025 83,940
2016 10,765 74.4% 41,822 65,123 95,665
2015 20,828 73.6% 47,021 73,601 105,042
2014 23,552 73.5% 48,528 74,645 105,688
2013 24,326 72.7% 50,748 76,366 105,920
2012 28,538 72.8% 47,984 74,468 102,637
2011 28,309 73.3% 45,386 71,768 101,959
2010 55,042 71.9% 49,631 81,688 120,176
2009 62,007 71.1% 46,113 76,934 115,096
2008 19,566 68.7% 59,970 93,830 132,088

How Long Does a Citroen Nemo Last?

Based on 21,949 Citroen Nemo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.0 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
18 years

Citroen Nemo Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Citroen Nemo MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
76,392 mi
75th Percentile
110,876 mi
95th Percentile
171,721 mi
Max Recorded
991,376 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen Nemo

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2018

76.7% MOT pass rate from 1,238 tests

Year to avoid
2008

68.7% MOT pass rate from 19,566 tests

The best year to buy a used Citroen Nemo is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.7% across 1,238 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Citroen Nemo Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Citroen Nemo THIS CAR 72.2% 279,608 76,392 mi 18 yrs
Citroen Xsara 69.1% 5,047,330 77,497 mi 28 yrs
Citroen Berlingo 70.1% 4,453,235 83,738 mi 29 yrs
Citroen C3 72.7% 4,435,918 53,913 mi 24 yrs
Suzuki Carry 71.4% 253,987 62,322 mi 27 yrs

Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen Nemo outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Citroen Nemo?

The Citroen Nemo has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.2% across 279,608 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Citroen Nemo are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4,767 recorded failures), coil spring broken (4,011), and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (3,587). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Citroen Nemo with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Citroen Nemo owner drives around 6,728 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 Citroen Nemo models stay on UK roads for around 18 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.

Citroen Nemo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citroen Nemo reliable?
Based on 279,608 MOT tests, the Citroen Nemo has a 72.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Citroen Nemo?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, coil spring broken, and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Citroen Nemo do per year?
The typical Citroen Nemo does around 6,728 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Citroen Nemo last?
Most Citroen Nemo models stay on UK roads for around 18 years based on our analysis of 21,949 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Citroen Nemo?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Citroen Nemo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Citroen Nemo is 2018 with a 76.7% pass rate across 1,238 tests.