2015 Citroen DS5 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,402 MOT tests, the 2015 Citroen DS5 recorded an 80.7% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.7%) and tyres (6.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, tread depth and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 163 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.1% once past 120-150k — 3.1× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 208 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.8% | 164 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 159 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.0% | 121 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.9% | 93 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 75 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 163 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 133 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 104 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 87 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 65 |
| 6 | Wipers | 52 |
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 | 27.2% | 653 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.6% | 496 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 203 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.0% | 191 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 165 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 125 |
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 | 154 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 855 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 877 | 21.9% |
| 90-120k | 353 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 133 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 473 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 471 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 487 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 494 | 22.1% |
| 2025 | 477 | 22.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 DS5
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.6% 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 DS5s pass their MOT?
80.7% of the 2,402 2015 Citroen DS5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Citroen DS5?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by tyres (6.8%).
Does the 2015 DS5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,402 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.