2016 Citroen Nemo — MOT failures & pass rate
6,817 MOT tests on the 2016 Citroen Nemo are in this dataset, and 77.0% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 19.5% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests against 10.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are shock absorbers, coil spring and tread depth — shock absorbers alone was recorded 529 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.3% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 920 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 713 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.0% | 542 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.7% | 386 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.2% | 287 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 161 |
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 | 529 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 523 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 335 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 239 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 210 |
| 6 | Washers | 206 |
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 | 29.8% | 2,035 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 951 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.6% | 857 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 603 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 602 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 532 |
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 | 448 | 15.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,860 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 2,096 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,354 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 671 | 25.6% |
| 150k+ | 388 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,393 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 1,387 | 21.2% |
| 2023 | 1,415 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 1,332 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 1,290 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Nemo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.0% 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 2016 Citroen Nemos pass their MOT?
77.0% of the 6,817 2016 Citroen Nemo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Citroen Nemo?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.5%).
Does the 2016 Nemo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,817 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.