2019 DS Ds3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,036 MOT tests, the 2019 DS Ds3 recorded an 89.3% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail at 10.1%, so the 2019 Ds3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.6%) and tyres (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 637 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.3% versus 8.5%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (12.1% vs 10.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 20.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.6% | 614 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.3% | 367 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 329 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 317 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 161 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 637 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 277 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 226 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 165 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 161 |
| 6 | Washers | 134 |
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 | 20.9% | 2,311 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.8% | 2,301 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.1% | 565 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 322 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 264 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.8% | 200 |
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 | 5,963 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 4,635 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 425 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,244 | 10.5% |
| Diesel | 792 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 2,616 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 2,783 | 10.5% |
| 2024 | 2,776 | 12.4% |
| 2025 | 2,804 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Ds3
On a 2019 Ds3, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (3.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2019 DS Ds3s pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 11,036 2019 DS Ds3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 DS Ds3?
Visibility, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (3.3%).
Does the 2019 Ds3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,036 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.