MOT performance
DS 3 diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 18,479 MOT tests on diesel DS 3s in 2023–2024 (on average 6.7 years old at test, median 60,509 miles), 61.0% passed first time, against 72.1% of 47,976 petrol DS 3 tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel DS 3s failed 76% more often than comparable cars — 1.76× against 1.56× for the DS 3 as a whole.
18,479 MOT tests on 9,290 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 61.0% | ±0.7 pts (95%), n = 18,479 |
| All DS 3s | 69.4% | n = 68,070 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.76× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; DS 3 overall 1.56× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.9% | n = 18,479 |
| Average age at test | 6.7 years | n = 18,479 |
| Registration years covered | 2012–2022 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other DS 3 fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 47,976 | 6 yrs | 72.1% | +48% | 6.5% |
| Diesel | 18,479 | 6.7 yrs | 61.0% | +76% | 9.9% |
| Electric | 1,615 | 2.5 yrs | 85.1% | +27% | 3.2% |
Where diesel DS 3s differ
- Steering: diesel DS 3s failed 48% more often than the DS 3 overall, relative to comparable cars (2.93× vs 1.98×).
- Body, chassis and structure: diesel DS 3s failed 32% more often than the DS 3 overall, relative to comparable cars (9.06× vs 6.87×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All DS 3s (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis and structure | 15.0% (+806%) | 7.8% (+587%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 13.3% (+110%) | 10.5% (+100%) |
| Suspension | 9.4% (+86%) | 6.4% (+59%) |
| Tyres | 8.8% (+37%) | 6.8% (+18%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 6.5% (+95%) | 6.9% (+97%) |
| Brakes | 6.4% (+38%) | 4.7% (+24%) |
| Steering | 2.6% (+193%) | 1.6% (+98%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.0% (+2%) | 1.6% (+15%) |
Most common diesel DS 3 failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Body, chassis and structure | 12.52% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 6.15% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 4.50% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 4.06% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 3.29% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 78.5% (1,022) | 81.6% (7,285) |
| 5-6 | 67.0% (5,074) | 73.6% (18,343) |
| 7-8 | 56.8% (11,495) | 66.8% (20,151) |
| 9-10 | 52.8% (625) | 62.3% (926) |
DS 3 by registration year
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific diesel DS 3
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.