2012 Citroen DS3 MOT pass rate: 59.2% (42,422 tests)

2012-registered Citroen DS3s passed 59.2% of 42,422 MOT tests in 2023–2025 — 12.0 points worse than same-age cars (71.2%).

59.2%Pass rate, 2012 cars

88.0Age-adjusted index (100 = average)

42,422Tests analysed

83,448 miMedian mileage at test

61.4% / 57.1%Petrol vs diesel pass rate

Is the 2012 DS3 getting worse?

Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:

Test year	Pass rate
2023	59.2% -13.2 vs same-age
2024	59.3% -11.7 vs same-age
2025	59.2% -11.0 vs same-age

The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.

What fails on a 2012 DS3

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	13,749	26.0%
2	Suspension	10,371	19.6%
3	Body, chassis, structure	7,357	13.9%
4	Brakes	6,144	11.6%
5	Tyres	5,115	9.7%
6	Steering	3,524	6.7%

All DS3 years compared

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2010	11,411	58.3%	-9.0 pts	95,077
2011	26,897	59.8%	-9.4 pts	89,682
2012 (this page)	42,422	59.2%	-12.0 pts	83,448
2013	52,836	60.9%	-12.5 pts	76,020
2014	52,951	62.1%	-13.7 pts	69,537
2015	25,058	64.4%	-14.4 pts	61,863

Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Citroen DS3 years to avoid.

Buying a 2012 DS3? Two checks first

Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

FAQs

Is a 2012 Citroen DS3 reliable?

2012-registered examples passed 59.2% of their MOT tests (42,422 tests, 2023–2025), -12.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 83,448 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.

What mileage is too high for a 2012 DS3?

The median tested example shows 83,448 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.

Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 DS3?

In this cohort petrols pass 61.4% of tests against 57.1% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.