2009 Citroen Nemo — MOT failures & pass rate
16,441 MOT tests on the 2009 Citroen Nemo are in this dataset, and 71.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.3%) and lighting & signalling (15.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, position lamp and coil spring — shock absorbers alone was recorded 1,275 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.9% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.4% fail against 28.5% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 16,441 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.3% | 2,850 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 2,509 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.7% | 1,263 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 1,155 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 934 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.0% | 817 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 1,275 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,043 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 968 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 891 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 762 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 745 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.8% | 5,556 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.2% | 5,299 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.4% | 3,029 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 2,967 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 2,478 |
| 6 | Visibility | 11.5% | 1,894 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 740 | 24.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,054 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,763 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 3,881 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,795 | 30.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,806 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 13,564 | 28.5% |
| Petrol | 2,877 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,898 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 3,671 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 3,389 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 2,957 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 2,526 | 29.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Nemo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (7.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2009 Citroen Nemos pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 16,441 2009 Citroen Nemo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Citroen Nemo?
Suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.3%).
Does the 2009 Nemo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,441 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.