Used car guide

2017 DS DS4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 DS DS4s, from 962 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

962MOT tests in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
7,400typical miles a year
7.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 DS DS4s than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints7.1× usual
    DS DS4
    10.7% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, against 0.8% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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 lights4.8× usual
    DS DS4
    11.5% All 2017 cars
    2.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 0.7% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

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

  • Coil springs2.8× usual
    DS DS4
    8.2% All 2017 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.5%, against 2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.2% here, against 4.8% of all 2017 cars.

By area

The share of 2017 DS DS4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    25% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    17% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    11% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a DS DS4?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022830Tyres 25%
20162,230Tyres 32%
2015797Tyres 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 DS DS4s registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score