Used car guide · 2008–2018

Citroen Nemo common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Citroen Nemo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 41,686 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

41,686MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
2,485on the UK register
1known fault across all years
2011best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20182017201620152014201320122011201020092008

What usually goes wrong with a Citroen Nemo?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

    Cars registered 2012–2018 · 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

    The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

    Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

Common Citroen Nemo MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 5.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Windscreen

    up to 4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

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

  • Coil springs

    up to 4.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 4.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

Citroen Nemo MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2011 Citroen Nemo did best (59% passed first time, 3 points below all 2011 cars) and the 2016 did worst (60%, 17 points below all 2016 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201863%83% -20462 (small sample)
201765%80% -151,419
201660%77% -173,052
201559%74% -155,075
201459%70% -114,743
201358%67% -94,161
201258%64% -64,258
201159%62% -33,587
201056%60% -46,801
200954%59% -56,646
200850%57% -71,482

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Citroen Nemo

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
  2. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Citroen Nemo as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 5.3× as often on the Citroen Nemo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the windscreen? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the Citroen Nemo as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen Nemo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score