2009 Citroen Nemo 1.4L Diesel · LC09 YPZ

A persistent thread of front suspension ball joint play and minor electrical/lighting faults runs through the MOT history of this 2009 Citroen Nemo, with the most recent test on 18 December 2024 passing alongside four advisory or minor items rather than returning a clean sheet. The nearside front suspension arm ball joint has now been flagged with slight play in three consecutive tests spanning 2021, 2022 and 2024, with a single offside front entry also noted in 2024, indicating a chronic wear pattern that warrants close physical inspection rather than dismissal as borderline advisory noise. The 2018 failure is notable because all four defects were electrical or safety system related, including an inoperative horn, a faulty hazard warning switch, an illuminated ABS warning lamp and a non-functioning driver's airbag, suggesting a period in which the electrical integrity of the vehicle was compromised; however, no similar electrical failures have reappeared in the seven tests since. The most recent result still recorded an engine oil leak (noted as not excessive) for the second consecutive year, alongside a cracked windscreen not yet encroaching on the driver's view and a failed offside rear registration plate lamp, leaving the overall pattern as one of borderline advisories accumulating rather than any single dominant mechanical failure. With 191,486 miles recorded over approximately seventeen years of life, this Nemo has averaged around 11,264 miles per year, which sits broadly in line with typical mileage expectations for a light commercial derivative of its age. The annual test entries from 2018 through 2024 are largely consecutive, with no obvious multi-year gaps that would suggest extended periods off the road, meaning the wear recorded at MOT is likely to reflect genuine in-service deterioration rather than the accelerated degradation often seen when vehicles are restarted after long lay-ups. At this accumulated mileage, particular attention should be paid to consumable and mechanical items that MOT testing does not fully cover, including clutch operation, dual mass flywheel behaviour, timing belt service interval verification and gearbox synchro wear, all of which are realistic concerns on a high-mileage small diesel or petrol van of this generation regardless of MOT outcome. For a prospective buyer, the recurring nearside front suspension arm ball joint play is the single most important physical check, as the same joint has now been reported across multiple annual tests and may have progressed beyond slight play since the December 2024 assessment. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, particularly when steering is turned on full lock, and feel for any vagueness or notchiness through the steering wheel that would indicate the joint has worn further. The offside front ball joint flagged in 2024 should be inspected with equal rigour, and the upper rear shock absorber bushes noted as slightly worn in 2022 should be checked for continued serviceability, as perished upper mounts commonly present as a clonking noise from the rear over rough roads and can progress to dampers becoming insecure. Given the persistent engine oil leak advisories, it is worth inspecting the underside and engine bay for fresh oil residue, particularly around the rocker cover gasket, sump plug area and turbo or cam seals where applicable, and noting the oil level on the dipstick before any test drive to confirm whether the leak has worsened. The electrical and safety system defects that caused the 2018 failure, although absent from recent tests, are worth verifying through a deliberate functional check rather than relying solely on dashboard warning lamps. Confirm the horn operates from both the steering wheel boss and any central locking interface, ensure the hazard warning switch illuminates all indicators simultaneously, and verify that the ABS warning lamp extinguishes promptly after engine start, as intermittent ABS faults can return without triggering an immediate MOT failure. The driver's airbag should be confirmed by visual inspection of the steering wheel centre pad for tampering, mismatched trim or a non-original appearance, and any airbag warning lamp on the instrument cluster should be investigated before purchase. Finally, the cracked windscreen and inoperative rear registration plate lamp recorded in December 2024 are trivial in isolation but together suggest that minor cosmetic and electrical items have been deferred, so a thorough walk-around confirming all exterior lighting, wiper operation, mirror condition and seatbelt function would be sensible to ensure no further deferred maintenance is hiding behind the recorded advisories.