2018 Citroen Nemo — MOT failures & pass rate
982 MOT tests on the 2018 Citroen Nemo are in this dataset, and 80.5% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (16.1% fail rate), the 2018 Nemo comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.1%) and tyres (7.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, shock absorbers and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 63 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.6% once past 120-150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 89 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.9% | 78 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 75 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 75 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 25 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 63 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 50 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 45 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 34 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 25 |
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 | 25.4% | 249 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.4% | 102 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.6% | 94 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.9% | 58 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.2% | 51 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 47 |
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 | 262 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 340 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 190 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 120 | 25.8% |
| 120-150k | 39 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 189 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 208 | 19.2% |
| 2023 | 206 | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 194 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 185 | 21.6% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Nemo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.9% 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.
- Suspension (7.6% 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.
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 2018 Citroen Nemos pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 982 2018 Citroen Nemo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Citroen Nemo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by tyres (7.9%).
Does the 2018 Nemo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 982 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.