DS 3 MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 79.7% of DS 3 MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 1,445 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
79.6%
All cars: 86.1% (6.5 points worse). 1,445 tests.
At 6–10 years
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
At 11 years and over
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 785 | 79.7% | 87.8% | 23,750 miles |
| 4 | 540 | 78.3% | 86.4% | 28,750 miles |
| 5 | 120 | 85.0% | 84.5% | 33,750 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of DS 3 MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | 3 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 10.6% | 5.2% |
| Suspension | 7.7% | 13.7% |
| Tyres | 7.3% | 8.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.2% | 16.6% |
| Brakes | 3.5% | 10.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Road wheels | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.4% | 4.2% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively failed 9.2% of tests · what this means
- Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt failed 3.7% of tests · what this means
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 3.0% of tests
- Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords failed 2.7% of tests
- Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt failed 1.8% of tests · what this means
- Ball joint excessively worn failed 1.5% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: too high failed 1.4% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam failed 0.9% of tests · what this means
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid failed 0.8% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect failed 0.8% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular 3?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every 3 version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: electric 94.3%, petrol 5.7%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other DS models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.