2017 Citroen Nemo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Citroen Nemo passed 78.2% of its 3,061 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.1 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 17.7%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (11.4%) and lighting & signalling (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, shock absorbers and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 201 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.3% in the 0-30k band and 24.4% in the 150k+ band, a 7.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.4% | 348 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 309 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 223 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 181 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.0% | 121 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 78 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 201 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 175 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 133 |
| 4 | Wipers | 126 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 109 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 102 |
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 | 30.6% | 935 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 346 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.3% | 314 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.5% | 231 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 209 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 168 |
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 | 433 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,121 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 759 | 24.0% |
| 90-120k | 449 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 215 | 20.9% |
| 150k+ | 82 | 24.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 627 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 625 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 630 | 22.2% |
| 2024 | 606 | 22.8% |
| 2025 | 573 | 22.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Nemo
On a 2017 Nemo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (11.4% 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 (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.3% 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 2017 Citroen Nemos pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 3,061 2017 Citroen Nemo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Citroen Nemo?
Suspension, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.1%).
Does the 2017 Nemo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 0-30k band to 24.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,061 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.