31,284 tests in 2025
DS Ds3 reliability and MOT pass rate
72.3% passed first time. The 27.7% fail rate is 5.1 points worse than the all-car average, on a median example 9 years old with 52,512 miles.
Pass rate
72.3%
22.6% of all cars failed; 27.7% of these did.
Fixed on the day
6.5%
Passed after a defect was put right during the visit.
Median at test
52,512 mi
9 years old.
Fail rate by age
| Age at test | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | 2,665 | 15% |
| 6-9 years | 22,740 | 27.1% |
| 10-13 years | 5,853 | 35.7% |
| 14+ years | 0 | — |
What the Ds3 fails on
Share of failed tests with at least one fail item in each DVSA inspection section. A test can fail in several sections at once.
- Suspension69 dangerous37.9%
- Body, chassis, structure24 dangerous29.5%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment4 dangerous25.7%
- Tyres2,190 dangerous24.4%
- Brakes974 dangerous19.3%
- Visibility1 dangerous14.4%
- Noise, emissions and leaks9 dangerous9.6%
- Steering23 dangerous8.9%
Is the Ds3 getting worse?
The fail rate rose 9.3 points to 28% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years. Ageing alone would predict about 7.5 points, so it is getting worse faster than age explains.
| Year | Tests | Median age | Fail rate | All cars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 32,054 | 6 | 18.7% | 22.5% | |
| 2023 | 32,977 | 7 | 22.6% | 22.8% | |
| 2024 | 28,224 | 8 | 25.2% | 23.2% | |
| 2025 | 30,709 | 9 | 28% | 22.6% |
Fail rate is first attempts at class 4 tests. Median age is the age of a typical Ds3 at its test that year, and it is the number to watch: across the whole fleet each extra year of age adds roughly 1.9 points to the fail rate, so a model whose age and fail rate rise together is simply getting older.
The exact defects that fail it
Every failure item DVSA recorded against a Ds3 in 2025, counted by how many tests each one appeared on.
- 1Coil spring: fractured or broken2,261 tests
- 2Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1,999 tests
- 3Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm891 tests
- 4Position lamp: not working738 tests
- 5Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play701 tests
- 6Headlamp: not working on dipped beam603 tests
- 7Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively600 tests
- 8Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick537 tests
What wears out first
Advisories are the tester flagging wear that is still legal. A typical Ds3 collects 2.57 of them per test, and these are the ones that come up most. Treat it as the running-repairs list for the next year or two.
- 1Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5,410 tests
- 2Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4,942 tests
- 3Condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure3,652 tests
- 4Exhaust system: system insecure2,183 tests
- 5Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2,147 tests
- 6Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1,926 tests
- 7Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine1,534 tests
- 8Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn1,483 tests
Questions
What is the DS Ds3 MOT pass rate?
72.3% of the 31,284 DS Ds3 first-attempt MOTs in 2025 passed. The fail rate of 27.7% compares with 22.6% across all cars. A further 6.5% passed after a defect was fixed during the test visit.
What does a DS Ds3 usually fail on?
The single most common failure is "Coil spring: fractured or broken", recorded on 2,261 failed tests, followed by "Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" and "Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm". By section, suspension appears in 37.9% of failures, body, chassis, structure appears in 29.5% of failures, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment appears in 25.7% of failures.
Does age change the odds?
Sharply. At 3 to 5 years old the fail rate was 15%; at 10-13 years it was 35.7%. The median DS Ds3 tested in 2025 was 9 years old with 52,512 miles.
Is the DS Ds3 getting less reliable?
The fail rate rose 9.3 points to 28% from 2022 to 2025 while the median one tested aged 3 years. Ageing alone would predict about 7.5 points, so it is getting worse faster than age explains.
First-attempt class 4 tests, 2025, from DVSA’s anonymised MOT data (OGL v3, retrieved 2026-09-12). DVSA records newer cars trim by trim; this page adds every Ds3 trim together. Year-on-year figures come from the same DVSA extracts for 2026 and earlier years. Full method on the pass rates hub.
Other DS models
Checking a particular Ds3?
The odds above are the model. The car in front of you has its own record: every test, every advisory, the mileage at each one.
Due a test? Find an approved MOT station near you.