2013 Citroen DS5 — MOT failures & pass rate
11,629 MOT tests on the 2013 Citroen DS5 are in this dataset, and 74.3% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 20.2% of the time, so this is 5.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.4%) and lighting & signalling (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, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 957 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.6% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 1,562 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 1,333 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.7% | 778 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 683 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 493 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 365 |
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 | 957 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 872 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 673 |
| 4 | Joints | 511 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 426 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 422 |
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% | 3,454 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.5% | 2,847 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.6% | 2,283 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 1,189 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.8% | 902 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 763 |
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 | 98 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,145 | 18.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,123 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 3,922 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,668 | 28.1% |
| 150k+ | 667 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,514 | 25.7% |
| Petrol | 75 | 21.3% |
| Hybrid | 40 | 37.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,396 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 2,421 | 25.1% |
| 2023 | 2,379 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 2,329 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 2,104 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 2013 DS5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.4% 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 (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.7% 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 2013 Citroen DS5s pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 11,629 2013 Citroen DS5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Citroen DS5?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.5%).
Does the 2013 DS5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,629 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.