2012 Citroen DS5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Citroen DS5 passed 74.4% of its 7,169 recorded MOT tests. That is 4.0 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.2%) and lighting & signalling (9.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, joints and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 443 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.9% in the 0-30k band and 30.2% in the 150k+ band, a 15.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.2% | 871 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 711 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.2% | 513 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.6% | 471 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 403 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 237 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 443 |
| 2 | Joints | 435 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 419 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 376 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 337 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 332 |
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 | 29.7% | 2,126 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.4% | 1,536 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.7% | 1,484 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 683 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 633 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.6% | 548 |
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 | 94 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 725 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,078 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,490 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,226 | 27.4% |
| 150k+ | 527 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,825 | 25.4% |
| Electric | 127 | 27.6% |
| Hybrid | 88 | 33.0% |
| Other | 76 | 27.6% |
| Petrol | 53 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,496 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 1,517 | 25.9% |
| 2023 | 1,501 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 1,393 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 1,262 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 DS5
On a 2012 DS5, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 (9.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.2% 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 DS5s pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 7,169 2012 Citroen DS5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Citroen DS5?
Suspension, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.9%).
Does the 2012 DS5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,169 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.