Used car guide · 2012–2015

Citroen DS5 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Citroen DS5, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 12,337 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

12,337MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
4,058on the UK register
1known fault across all years
2012best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2015201420132012

What usually goes wrong with a Citroen DS5?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (PureTech petrol)

    Cars registered 2012–2015 · 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol

    The 1.0 and 1.2 PureTech petrol engines use a timing belt that runs in the engine oil (a “wet belt”). It can break down early and shed rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some also burn too much oil. Stellantis now covers earlier engines for belt and oil-burning problems for up to 10 years or 112,000 miles, as long as the car has been serviced on schedule.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history showing the right oil, and when the belt was last checked or changed. Check the oil level on the dipstick, and that no oil-pressure or engine warning light stays on.

    Source: Parkers: Stellantis wet belt compensation, and the cars at risk, Stellantis: compensation policy for earlier PureTech 1.0 and 1.2 engines (7 May 2025)

Common Citroen DS5 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 7.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Headlight aim

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2012 and 2013.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Citroen DS5 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2012 Citroen DS5 did best (59% passed first time, 5 points below all 2012 cars) and the 2013 did worst (59%, 8 points below all 2013 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201567%74% -71,157
201464%70% -63,040
201359%67% -85,088
201259%64% -53,052

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Citroen DS5

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. When was the timing belt last checked or changed, and has it had the right oil at every service? Is the car still within Stellantis’ extended PureTech cover?
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 7.7× as often on the Citroen DS5 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 3.8× as often on the Citroen DS5 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the Citroen DS5 as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Citroen DS5?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score