MOT failures by make
DS MOT failures for “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play”
DS cars failed their MOT on “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play” in 1.23% of 86,532 tests in 2023–2024 (1,063 tests) — 3.4 times as often as comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 0.36% of tests. It is the number 11 most common failure item on DSs.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- DS tests failing on it
- 1.23%
- 1,063 of 86,532 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 0.36%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 3.40×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #11 for DS
How unusual this is for the make
Across all MOT failures, DSs fail 1.51× as often as comparable cars. On this item the gap is 2.25× wider than that overall level, so it is a genuine DS pattern rather than a reflection of how often the make fails in general. It is a major defect in the steering part of the test. Nationally it appears on 1.07% of MOT tests.
DS models and “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play”
One DS model has enough tests to compare. Not every model follows the make: the pattern is concentrated in some models. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS DS 3 | 68,070 | 1.48% | 3.70× |
By age at test
The difference is largest at 7-8 years old: 2.14% of DS tests against 0.57% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | DS tests | DS | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 13,369 | 0.06% | 0.07% |
| 5-6 | 29,349 | 0.63% | 0.21% |
| 7-8 | 38,611 | 2.14% | 0.57% |
Other DS MOT faults that stand out
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt · 10.73× comparable cars
- Exhaust system: system insecure · 10.19× comparable cars
- Position lamp: not working · 3.85× comparable cars
- Coil spring: fractured or broken · 2.68× comparable cars
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam · 3.18× comparable cars
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect · 3.46× comparable cars
- Washers: not working · 3.01× comparable cars
- Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn · 2.86× comparable cars
Limitations
Official data: DVSA's anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old. 73 Auto analysis: the comparison rate applies the national rate of this item for each test's own age, mileage band and fuel to the DS tests. An MOT result reflects maintenance, mileage and how a car is used as well as its design, so this is not a measure of which make is most reliable. The wording of the defect is DVSA's.
Has this DS failed on it before?
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UK number plate or 17-character VIN
Where these figures come from
- Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.
Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.