2017 DS Ds4 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,924 MOT tests on the 2017 DS Ds4 are in this dataset, and 83.0% of them passed. That is 5.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.0%) and tyres (5.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, joints and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 280 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.3% versus 9.2%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 15.8% fail against 17.3% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 5,924 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 353 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 334 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 265 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 265 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 227 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.8% | 226 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 280 |
| 2 | Joints | 242 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 208 |
| 4 | Wipers | 193 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 159 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 155 |
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 | 26.3% | 1,557 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 1,289 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 458 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.6% | 453 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 253 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.2% | 192 |
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 | 1,305 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,118 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,206 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 243 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,725 | 17.3% |
| Petrol | 1,199 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,153 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 1,164 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 1,208 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 1,204 | 20.2% |
| 2025 | 1,195 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Ds4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Suspension (4.5% 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 2017 DS Ds4s pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 5,924 2017 DS Ds4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 DS Ds4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2017 Ds4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,924 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.