DS DS3 MOT Pass Rates and Running Costs by Year

Reliability, estimated running costs, and MOT data across 8 model years from 64,121 MOT tests in 2024.

Avg Pass Rate

84%

Total Tests

64,121

Highest Pass Rate

2020 (89%)

Years Covered

About the DS DS3

The DS DS3 was MOT tested 64,121 times in 2024 (DVSA data, retests included) across 8 model years (2015 to 2022), with an average pass rate of 84%. That's slightly above the average of 82% across all models in our data. Our records list petrol and diesel versions.

Best and Worst Years

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2020 model has the highest pass rate at 89% from 2,236 tests. The 2015 model has the lowest at 76%. The 13 point gap means pass rates vary somewhat between years, but no year is dramatically different. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger.

Reliability Trend

Newer DS DS3s pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 8 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (2015) averages 63,351 miles, while the newest (2022) averages 29,365 miles.

Compared to the DS brand average of 88%, the DS3 is 4 points lower, placing it among the less reliable DS models.

What the DS DS3 fails its MOT on most

Of 11,456 MOT tests on the DS DS3 that failed at the first attempt in 2025 (DVSA data), the share that failed on each area:

35%
Lights and electrics
Same age: 29%
31%
Suspension
Same age: 27%
27%
Body, chassis and structure
Same age: 7.3%

DS DS3 reliability, common problems and years to avoid

Estimated Running Costs

Fuel (Diesel, 1500cc)

£1,219

Road Tax

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£350

Total per year£1,824

Per month£152/mo

Based on 7,400 miles/year, average pump prices of 174.57p petrol and 199.33p diesel (GOV.UK weekly road fuel prices, week of 19 October 2026), and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.

Full 2022 details

How reliable is the DS DS3?

vs average of all models+2% (82% avg)

vs DS brand average-4% (88% avg)

Best to worst year spread13 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

DS DS3 by Year

Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2022	86%	42	29,365 mi
2021	88%	1,163	25,541 mi
2020	89%	2,236	28,588 mi
2019	88%	4,915	33,758 mi
2018	85%	6,276	41,941 mi
2017	83%	13,673	48,126 mi
2016	79%	22,600	57,124 mi
2015	76%	13,216	63,351 mi

Questions about the DS DS3

Is the DS DS3 reliable?

Across its 8 model years in our data (2015 to 2022), the DS DS3 averages an 84% MOT pass rate, from 64,121 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 2 points above the average of 82% across all models in the same data. The 2020 model has the highest pass rate of the years with at least 100 tests, at 89%.

Which year DS DS3 has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2020 DS DS3 has the highest MOT pass rate at 89%, while the 2015 model has the lowest at 76%, a 13 point gap. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.