Verdict
The Citroën DS3 passes its MOT first time on 56.9% of tests, 14.3 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (71.3%). That puts it ahead of 2% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2010 DS3 does best (beats 12% of cars) and the 2015 worst (beats 1%).
Of its engines, the 1.6 Petrol does best (beats 4%) and the 1.2 Petrol worst (beats 0%).
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 53.2% | Beats 2% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 60.3% | Beats 4% | E |
| 1.2 Petrol | 63.5% | Beats 0% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 53.0% | Beats 5% | E |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Coil springs 3.1× typical
Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps. - Exhaust system 5.4× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath. - Headlight bulbs & units 2.5× typical
Check dipped and main beam on both sides. - Track rod ends 3.2× typical
Feel for play or knocking in the steering and check for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres. - Sidelights 1.8× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid. - Headlight aim 1.7× typical
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coil springs | 8.9% | 2.8% | 3.1× |
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 8.8% | 1.1% | 8.0× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 5.0% | 2.0% | 2.5× |
| Exhaust system | 4.8% | 0.9% | 5.4× |
| Headlight aim | 4.8% | 2.9% | 1.7× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 4.6% | 3.6% | 1.3× |
| Sidelights | 4.5% | 2.5% | 1.8× |
| Track rod ends | 4.3% | 1.4% | 3.2× |
| Tyre tread depth | 4.0% | 2.7% | 1.5× |
| Windscreen washers | 3.5% | 2.1% | 1.7× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 89.7 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 88.4 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 48.3 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 48.0 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 45.4 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 41.6 |
| A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 41.2 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 39.8 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2015 Citroën DS33 engines63.9% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 60.8% | Beats 0% | E |
| 1.2 Petrol | 65.5% | Beats 0% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 70.2% | Beats 3% | E |
2014 Citroën DS33 engines60.5% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 57.2% | Beats 1% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 64.3% | Beats 2% | E |
| 1.2 Petrol | 61.1% | Beats 1% | E |
2013 Citroën DS33 engines58.0% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Petrol | 62.1% | Beats 4% | E |
| 1.6 Diesel | 53.7% | Beats 2% | E |
| 1.2 Petrol | 56.8% | Beats 1% | E |
2012 Citroën DS33 engines52.3% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 48.3% | Beats 2% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 56.6% | Beats 4% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 52.2% | Beats 1% | E |
2011 Citroën DS33 engines51.1% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 48.1% | Beats 4% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 55.1% | Beats 6% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 54.0% | Beats 5% | E |
2010 Citroën DS33 engines52.2% passE
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 Diesel | 50.4% | Beats 12% | E |
| 1.6 Petrol | 54.5% | Beats 13% | E |
| 1.4 Petrol | 52.3% | Beats 9% | E |
FAQ
What is the Citroën DS3 MOT pass rate?
56.9% of MOT tests on the Citroën DS3 were passed first time, based on 652,430 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2010–2015. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 71.3% of the time.
Is the Citroën DS3 reliable?
On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 2% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Citroën DS3 year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2010 DS3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 12% of cars on UK roads. The 2015 does worst: it beats 1%.
Which Citroën DS3 engine is best?
Across all years, the 1.6 Petrol does best: it beats 4% of cars on UK roads. The 1.2 Petrol does worst: it beats 0%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Citroën DS3?
The most common failure items are coil springs, drive shaft (CV) joints, headlight bulbs & units. Compared with similar cars, drive shaft (CV) joints comes up 8.0× as often.