2015 DS Ds4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 DS Ds4 passed 77.7% of its 5,165 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (15.6% fail rate), the 2015 Ds4 comes out 6.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (8.0%) 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 coil spring — joints alone was recorded 427 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.3% versus 13.1%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 28.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 433 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 411 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 362 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 361 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.1% | 263 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 212 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 427 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 292 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 266 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 192 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 184 |
| 6 | Wipers | 164 |
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 | 28.0% | 1,446 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.6% | 1,219 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 468 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.0% | 466 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.7% | 396 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 209 |
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 | 344 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,273 | 20.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,832 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 551 | 27.4% |
| 120-150k | 143 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,669 | 22.3% |
| Petrol | 496 | 22.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,000 | 17.7% |
| 2022 | 1,041 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 1,071 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 1,032 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 1,021 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Ds4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.0% 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+.
- Suspension (7.0% 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.
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 DS Ds4s pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 5,165 2015 DS Ds4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 DS Ds4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (8.0%).
Does the 2015 Ds4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,165 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.