Used car guide · 2015–2026

DS 3 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used DS 3, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 99,154 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

99,154MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
37,165on the UK register
1known fault across all years
2022best 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).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015

What usually goes wrong with a DS 3?

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 2015–2026 · 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 DS 3 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.

  • Brake discs

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 7.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    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.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 9.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Wipers

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Coil springs

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    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.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 30× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2020 and 2021.

    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.

DS 3 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2022 DS 3 did best (88% passed first time, 1 point below all 2022 cars) and the 2015 did worst (58%, 16 points below all 2015 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202288%89% -1756
202182%87% -51,862
202081%87% -63,574
201983%85% -27,424
201873%83% -1010,194
201770%80% -1021,441
201665%77% -1234,613
201558%74% -1619,290

Questions to ask the seller before buying a DS 3

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 brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the DS 3 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 7.8× as often on the DS 3 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 9.4× as often on the DS 3 as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a DS 3?

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