Citroen DS3 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Citroen DS3 appears in 498,962 MOT tests spanning model years 2009–2023, and 72.3% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail 21.1% of the time, so this is 6.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
Best and worst DS3 years
Ranked across DS3 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2016 cars pass 79.9% of the time while 2010 cars manage 70.1%, a 9.8-point spread.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.9%) and suspension (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, joints and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 45,519 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.9% in the 0-30k band and 30.9% in the 150k+ band, a 14.9-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.1% fail against 29.2% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 498,957 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every DS3 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 28,307 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 65,098 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 102,048 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 123,393 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 121,824 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 56,292 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 1,310 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 475 | 80.6% | 19.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 149 | 86.6% | 13.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 74,283 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 59,669 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 54,953 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.6% | 32,921 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.5% | 27,586 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 23,907 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.3% | 21,498 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 16,221 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 45,519 |
| 2 | Joints | 43,953 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25,997 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 23,743 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 23,203 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 22,204 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 20,189 |
| 8 | Tread depth | 19,878 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.0% | 149,500 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.2% | 145,505 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.1% | 85,529 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.5% | 82,218 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 49,952 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.7% | 38,523 |
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 | 18,966 | 15.9% |
| 30-60k | 147,236 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 195,962 | 29.0% |
| 90-120k | 99,889 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 29,413 | 31.6% |
| 150k+ | 7,355 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 254,283 | 29.2% |
| Petrol | 244,674 | 26.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102,748 | 25.8% |
| 2022 | 102,894 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 101,791 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 98,637 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 92,892 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a Citroen DS3
- Lighting & signalling (14.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Citroen DS3?
72.3% of the 498,962 Citroen DS3 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.7% fail rate, across model years 2009–2023.
What does the Citroen DS3 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.9% of tests, then suspension (12.0%).
Which DS3 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2016 has the best pass rate at 79.9% and 2010 the weakest at 70.1%, from 1,310 and 28,307 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect DS3 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 15.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.9% for 150k+, a 14.9-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel DS3 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 26.1% of the time against 29.2% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 498,962 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.