Used car guide

2009 Citroen Nemo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Citroen Nemos, from 1,895 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,895MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
6,600typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Citroen Nemos than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Headlights2.1× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    17.4% All 2009 cars
    8.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 3.9% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Shock absorbers1.9× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    14% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Windscreen2.5× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    8.4% All 2009 cars
    3.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2.2× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    6.9% All 2009 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Individual direction indicators2.1× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    6.2% All 2009 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 3.4% here, against 7.5% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Citroen Nemo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    41% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    40% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    25% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    19% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Citroen Nemo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016983Tyres 38%
20151,593Tyres 43%
20141,421Suspension 45%
20131,240Suspension 47%
20121,252Suspension 44%
20111,030Suspension 48%
20102,005Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 Citroen Nemos registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score