Verdict
DS cars pass their MOT first time on 72.4% of tests, against 81.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats only 2% of cars on UK roads and ranks DS 40th of 40 makes, well behind Ford and Vauxhall.
DS cars on UK roads were first registered from 2015 on, so they are compared with young typical cars, which pass often: the pass rate looks respectable but falls well short of theirs.
The DS3, which makes up most DS tests, beats only 2% of cars; the DS4 does a little better, beating 6%. DS3, DS4 and DS5 cars first registered up to 2015 are listed under Citroën.
Body and structure stands out, failing about 6 times as often as on a typical car of the same age and mileage, on about 1 in 16 tests. Lights and electrics (on about 9% of tests), visibility and steering all fail nearly twice as often.
Best DS models
Models with 50,000+ MOT tests. Beats = share of cars on UK roads it does better than.
No DS model beats half of cars.
Check most carefully
- DS3 Beats 2%
Where it fails
Every DS compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
DS models
Models with 20,000+ MOT tests, 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. Light vans are included and tend to grade lower, partly from hard commercial use.
| Model first registered | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS3 2015–2022 | 72.0% | Beats 2% | E |
| DS4 2015–2018 | 72.6% | Beats 6% | E |
FAQ
What is the DS MOT pass rate?
72.4% of DS MOT tests were passed first time, from 284,285 tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 81.7%, so DS cars do clearly worse than typical.
Are DS cars reliable?
On MOT results they are well below average: DS beats only 2% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and ranks 40th of 40 makes. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Is the DS3 reliable?
The DS3 beats only 2% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account. The DS4 does a little better, beating 6%.
What do DS cars fail their MOT on?
Lights and electrics (about 9% of tests), then tyres, visibility, and body and structure (about 6% each). Body and structure fails about 6 times as often as on a typical car of the same age and mileage.