2015 DS Ds5 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,502 MOT tests on the 2015 DS Ds5 are in this dataset, and 79.9% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail 17.0% of the time, so this is 3.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (7.3%) and lighting & signalling (6.2%) 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 registration plate lamp(s) — joints alone was recorded 196 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.3% versus 14.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 184 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 155 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.8% | 144 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.9% | 122 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.3% | 108 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 66 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 196 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 98 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 80 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 77 |
| 5 | Coil spring | 54 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 53 |
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 | 25.9% | 649 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.8% | 545 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 203 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.1% | 177 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.4% | 136 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 133 |
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 | 142 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 951 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 924 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 412 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 64 | 20.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 501 | 17.0% |
| 2022 | 489 | 16.4% |
| 2023 | 510 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 506 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 496 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Ds5
On a 2015 Ds5, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.3% 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 (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 2015 DS Ds5s pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 2,502 2015 DS Ds5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 DS Ds5?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.2%).
Does the 2015 Ds5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,502 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.