Does the DS 3 fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The DS 3 records 0.56 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 0.54 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (+0.02, 95% interval +0.00 to +0.04). It ranks 264 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a DS 3 by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the DS 3 is “An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction”, recorded 1,307 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 1,307 | 0.21 |
| Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | 937 | 0.15 |
| Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended | 439 | 0.07 |
| A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened | 253 | 0.04 |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 201 | 0.03 |
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 seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?
4.4% of DS 3 MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 5,262 miles later (1,423 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,423 (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 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · DS 3 noise, emissions and leaks failures · DS 3 road wheels failures · DS 3 steering failures · DS 3 suspension failures · DS 3 tyres failures · DS 3 visibility failures