2016 DS Ds4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 DS Ds4 passed 80.1% of its 14,126 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.2 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 13.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.5%) and body, structure & corrosion (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 coil spring — joints alone was recorded 966 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.7% once past 120-150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.5pp more often than petrol ones (20.4% vs 17.9%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.6% 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 | 7.5% | 1,067 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 966 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 860 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.2% | 738 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.5% | 633 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 595 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 966 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 709 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 547 |
| 4 | Wipers | 492 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 492 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 420 |
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 | 27.5% | 3,881 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.7% | 3,201 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 1,189 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.2% | 1,157 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.3% | 742 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 578 |
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 | 1,429 | 10.7% |
| 30-60k | 7,140 | 18.4% |
| 60-90k | 4,325 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,055 | 26.2% |
| 120-150k | 150 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 11,357 | 20.4% |
| Petrol | 2,769 | 17.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,782 | 15.6% |
| 2022 | 2,789 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 2,860 | 20.2% |
| 2024 | 2,846 | 22.0% |
| 2025 | 2,849 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Ds4
On a 2016 Ds4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.8% 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 (6.1% 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 Ds4s pass their MOT?
80.1% of the 14,126 2016 DS Ds4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 DS Ds4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.8%).
Does the 2016 Ds4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.7% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,126 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.