2011 Citroen Nemo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,751 MOT tests analysed for the 2011 Citroen Nemo, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 73.8% was below the average for cars of a similar age (78.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.3% in the 150k+ group versus 21.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.5% | 1,358 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 970 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.9% | 605 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 467 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 423 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.8% | 417 |
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 | 741 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 684 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 383 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 382 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 275 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 263 |
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 | 30.7% | 2,686 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.9% | 2,180 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.2% | 1,239 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 13.8% | 1,210 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 937 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.3% | 812 |
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 | 232 | 21.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,458 | 22.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,752 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,258 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,230 | 28.9% |
| 150k+ | 756 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,346 | 26.0% |
| Petrol | 403 | 30.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,054 | 24.5% |
| 2022 | 1,975 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 1,797 | 26.2% |
| 2024 | 1,582 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 1,343 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Nemo
Before buying a 2011 Citroen Nemo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.5% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.5% 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 (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2011 Citroen Nemos pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 8,751 2011 Citroen Nemo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Citroen Nemo?
Suspension, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.1%).
Does the 2011 Nemo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,751 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.