2015 Citroen DS3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 56,292 MOT tests, the 2015 Citroen DS3 recorded a 75.0% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 17.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.0%) and suspension (11.5%) 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 5,742 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.2% versus 15.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.4% fail against 26.8% for diesel, a 3.4-point gap across 56,292 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 6,757 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 6,465 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 5,332 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.7% | 3,752 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 2,645 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.7% | 2,633 |
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 | 5,742 |
| 2 | Joints | 4,352 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,790 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,339 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,117 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 2,075 |
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 | 28.4% | 15,968 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.6% | 15,528 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 8,937 |
| 4 | Suspension | 14.3% | 8,065 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 4,714 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 4,419 |
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 | 4,947 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 26,361 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 18,483 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 5,235 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,061 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 193 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 29,089 | 23.4% |
| Diesel | 27,203 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,020 | 21.0% |
| 2022 | 11,393 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 11,437 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 11,384 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 11,058 | 27.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 DS3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.5% 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 (9.5% 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
How many 2015 Citroen DS3s pass their MOT?
75.0% of the 56,292 2015 Citroen DS3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen DS3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by suspension (11.5%).
Does the 2015 DS3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 56,292 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.