Used car guide

2010 Citroen Nemo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Citroen Nemos, from 2,005 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,005MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
7,400typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Citroen Nemos than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Engine oil leaks1.9× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    19% All 2010 cars
    10.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.2% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    16% All 2010 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6%, against 2.1% of all 2010 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.

  • Headlights2.1× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    14.6% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 3.6% of all 2010 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.

  • Windscreen2.3× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    7.8% All 2010 cars
    3.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2010 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.

  • Power steering pipes and hoses13× usual
    Citroen Nemo
    3.9% All 2010 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 2.5% here, against 6.8% of all 2010 cars. Braking performance: 2.4% here, against 5.9% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Citroen Nemo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    40% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    22% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    21% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    17% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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%
20091,895Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Citroen Nemos registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score