Does the DS 3 fail the MOT on vehicle identification more than it should?
The DS 3 records 0.25 vehicle identification failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 0.31 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) (−0.06, 95% interval −0.07 to −0.04). It ranks 410 of 636 models on vehicle identification (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on vehicle identification · check a DS 3 by registration
What exactly fails on vehicle identification?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the DS 3 is “Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements”, recorded 1,057 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements | 1,057 | 0.17 |
| Number plate inscription missing or illegible | 280 | 0.04 |
| Number plate missing or so insecure that it is likely to fall off | 149 | 0.02 |
| Number plate showing an incorrect registration | 105 | 0.02 |
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 vehicle identification advisory, how often does it fail next time?
3.1% of DS 3 MOTs with a vehicle identification advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 7,060 miles later (3,221 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,221 (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 lamps, reflectors and electrics 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