DS Ds5 MOT pass rate & common failures
The DS Ds5 appears in 8,095 MOT tests spanning model years 2015–2019, and 82.8% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), the Ds5 comes out 2.0pp worse. Its most common failure areas are tyres, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and body, structure & corrosion (5.2%) 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 headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 438 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.4% versus 10.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Ds5 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2,502 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2016 | 3,388 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 1,532 | 85.6% | 14.4% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 665 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 497 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 419 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 414 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 273 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.0% | 240 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.9% | 237 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 161 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.9% | 69 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 438 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 343 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 257 |
| 4 | Wipers | 201 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 166 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 106 |
| 7 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 106 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 104 |
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% | 2,129 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 1,497 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 440 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.3% | 433 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 326 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 286 |
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 | 1,031 | 10.6% |
| 30-60k | 3,468 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,541 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 886 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 145 | 21.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,955 | 17.3% |
| Petrol | 140 | 17.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,608 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 1,608 | 15.4% |
| 2023 | 1,648 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 1,629 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 1,602 | 21.0% |
What to check before buying a DS Ds5
- 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.2% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the DS Ds5?
82.8% of the 8,095 DS Ds5 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.3% fail rate, across model years 2015–2019.
What does the DS Ds5 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (5.2%).
How much does mileage affect Ds5 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 10.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 21.4% for 120-150k, a 10.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,095 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.