2010 Citroen Nemo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,479 MOT tests, the 2010 Citroen Nemo recorded a 72.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (27.4% 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 (15.9%) 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 1,298 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Nemo fails 26.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.6% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 26.2% of the time against 27.5% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.9% | 2,620 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 2,527 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.9% | 1,296 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.2% | 1,194 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.0% | 826 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 732 |
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 | 1,298 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 1,063 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,013 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 850 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 797 |
| 6 | Washers | 740 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 32.0% | 5,269 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.6% | 5,044 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.5% | 3,046 |
| 4 | Brakes | 17.4% | 2,873 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 2,789 |
| 6 | Visibility | 10.6% | 1,746 |
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 | 672 | 26.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,777 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,646 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,870 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,939 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 3,082 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,879 | 27.5% |
| Petrol | 1,594 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,841 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 3,595 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 3,384 | 27.5% |
| 2024 | 3,003 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 2,656 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Nemo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (15.9% 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 (7.9% 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 2010 Citroen Nemos pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 16,479 2010 Citroen Nemo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Citroen Nemo?
Suspension, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (15.3%).
Does the 2010 Nemo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.3% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,479 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.