Does the DS 3 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The DS 3 records 19.57 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 10.96 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+8.61, 95% interval +8.50 to +8.72). It ranks 89 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a DS 3 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the DS 3 is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 28,458 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 28,458 | 4.50 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 18,312 | 2.90 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 17,399 | 2.75 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 15,689 | 2.48 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10,686 | 1.69 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 632,064 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a DS 3 gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
25.9% of DS 3 MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,326 miles later (7,006 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,006 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
DS 3 2010 · DS 3 2011 · DS 3 2012 · DS 3 2013 · DS 3 2014 · DS 3 2015 · DS 3 2016 · DS 3 2017 · DS 3 2018 · DS 3 2019 · DS 3 2020 · DS 3 in Finland · DS 3 in the Netherlands · DS 3 by postcode area · DS 3 body, chassis and structure failures · DS 3 brakes failures · DS 3 vehicle identification failures · DS 3 noise, emissions and leaks failures · DS 3 road wheels failures · DS 3 seat belts and airbags failures · DS 3 steering failures · DS 3 suspension failures · DS 3 tyres failures · DS 3 visibility failures