2016 DS Ds3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 72,593 MOT tests, the 2016 DS Ds3 recorded an 80.0% pass rate. That is 4.4 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 15.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, coil spring and wipers — joints alone was recorded 4,606 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.2% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.3% fail against 23.1% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 72,593 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 15.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 5,929 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 5,025 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.8% | 4,204 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 4,052 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.4% | 3,951 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.1% | 2,974 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 4,606 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,920 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,787 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,672 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,372 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,992 |
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 | 28.4% | 20,645 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.3% | 18,338 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 7,049 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.1% | 5,901 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.5% | 4,025 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 2,891 |
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 | 13,663 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 37,790 | 19.5% |
| 60-90k | 16,699 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 3,634 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 638 | 29.0% |
| 150k+ | 159 | 30.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 46,948 | 18.3% |
| Diesel | 25,645 | 23.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,101 | 15.4% |
| 2022 | 14,332 | 17.3% |
| 2023 | 14,657 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 14,624 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 14,879 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ds3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.9% 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+.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
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 2016 DS Ds3s pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 72,593 2016 DS Ds3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 DS Ds3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.9%).
Does the 2016 Ds3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 72,593 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.