Citroen
Ds3
148,761 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Ds3s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 11.4 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
66.1%
Pass-after-fix
6.5%
Fail
26.8%
Avg miles
81,416
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Some examples of this model are borderline — a small number of diesels were certified Euro 6 before September 2015. Check your registration on the government's ULEZ checker to be certain. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 · Bristol £9.00 .
Generations on file · 2
Citroen Ds3 · UK market
2009–2019
2018–now
Photos: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA / CC BY / public domain.
The picture
Citroen Ds3: challenging MOT record across 102,347 tests
The Citroen Ds3 is a diesel-powered car sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.
MOT data from 102,347 tests puts this car on a 64.9% first-time pass rate, well below the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 75,555 miles. The most common fail item is fractured or weakened suspension spring, followed by transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
The Ds3's pass rate warrants caution in the used market. Factor in likely first-test remedial work on the common failure items and get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the specific items this car trips on most.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 10–20
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
10–20
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
9,702 occurrences · 6.5% of tests
- 02
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
9,182 occurrences · 6.2% of tests
- 03
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
8,808 occurrences · 5.9% of tests
- 04
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
5,776 occurrences · 3.9% of tests
- 05
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
5,101 occurrences · 3.4% of tests
- 06
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
4,332 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 07
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
4,045 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
2,797 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 09
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
2,687 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
- 10
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
2,676 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£168–£515
If every one of this Ds3's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Parts & supplies for this fix
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Summit
Summit ADRG-169 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£9.89
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Summit
Summit ADRG-170 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£9.89
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Summit ADRG-48 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£9.89
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Summit
Summit ADRG-49 Citroen Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£9.89
View at My Motor World →
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Recall history
33 UK recalls on record.
The Ds3 has 33 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Buying or keeping a Ds3?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Ds3 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.