2012 Citroen Nemo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,296 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Citroen Nemo, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 73.3% was below the average for cars of a similar age (79.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.0% in the 150k+ group versus 19.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.6% | 1,712 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 1,302 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 678 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.9% | 605 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 575 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.7% | 484 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shock absorbers | 962 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 867 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 513 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 454 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 377 |
| 6 | Wipers | 319 |
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% | 3,155 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.4% | 2,409 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 16.5% | 1,700 |
| 4 | Brakes | 15.7% | 1,611 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 1,313 |
| 6 | Visibility | 9.9% | 1,019 |
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 | 276 | 19.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,513 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 3,030 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,113 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,548 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 780 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,865 | 26.8% |
| Petrol | 431 | 25.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,436 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 2,243 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 2,124 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 1,842 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 1,651 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Nemo
Before buying a 2012 Citroen Nemo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.6% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.6% 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 2012 Citroen Nemos pass their MOT?
73.3% of the 10,296 2012 Citroen Nemo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen Nemo?
Suspension, recorded in 16.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.7%).
Does the 2012 Nemo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,296 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.