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DS 4 reliability: MOT pass rate and common faults

2,221 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 2016 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

DS 4 cars first used in 2016 had an MOT pass rate below the average for their age.

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

62.8%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 60.8% to 64.8%.

In 2025, 62.8% of the 2,221 initial MOT tests on DS 4 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 74.9%. That is 12.1 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific DS 4

Its own MOT history, free.

DS 4 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

YearChartTestsmedian milesPassed first timeAgainst all vehicles that year
2016age 92,22167,90062.8%±2.1−12.1 ptsall: 74.9%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common DS 4 problems at the MOT

Share of the 826 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

Most common MOT failures on the DS 4

The defects recorded most often at the 826 failed initial tests on DS 4 cars, all years together, in the DVSA's own words. Each share is of failed tests, and a failed test can have more than one defect.

DefectShare of failed testsAll vehicles, same age
Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirtBody, chassis, structure28.6%236 tests4.3%
Coil spring fractured or brokenSuspension18.4%152 tests9.9%
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mmTyres13.1%108 tests8.8%
Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lampsLights and electrics10.5%87 tests3.1%
Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thickBrakes6.1%50 tests7.8%

These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. "All vehicles, same age" is the same defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the DS 4's failed tests in each year. How we count

What to check when viewing a DS 4

Based on the areas where DS 4 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

  1. Body, chassis, structure

    In 32.7% of failed DS 4 tests

    • Look for rust or damage under the sills, around the wheel arches and on the floor where you can see it.
    • Open and close every door, the bonnet and the boot, and check each one latches properly.
    • Check the seats are secure and adjust properly.
  2. Lights and electrics

    In 32.0% of failed DS 4 tests

    • Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
    • Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
    • Check the dashboard warning lights come on when the car is switched on and then go out. Ask about any that stay lit.
  3. Suspension

    In 31.2% of failed DS 4 tests

    • Push down hard on each corner. Check the car rises once and settles, not bouncing again and again.
    • On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
    • Check the car sits level when parked on flat ground.
  4. Tyres

    In 21.7% of failed DS 4 tests

    • Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
    • Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
    • Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a DS 4's MOT history

DS 4 questions

Is the DS 4 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 62.8% of initial MOT tests on DS 4 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 74.9%. That is 12.1 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common DS 4 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are body, chassis, structure (in 32.7% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 32.0% of failed tests) and suspension (in 31.2% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 9-year-old DS 4?

At their 2025 MOT tests, DS 4 cars first used in 2016, about 9 years old, had a median of 67,900 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific DS 4's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any DS 4

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't show

Other DS models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all DS 4 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count