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Citroen Ds Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Citroen Ds car check

Is the Citroen Ds reliable? We analysed 7,937 real MOT tests across 1,007 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,937 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.6%
Typical Mileage
48,944mi
Annual Mileage
970mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
60yrs

The Citroen Ds is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and headlamp aim too low. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen Ds.

Citroen Ds Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Citroen Ds. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Citroen Ds MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Citroen Ds to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.4%
2016
83.2%
2015
83.6%
2014
78.9%
2013
84.6%
2012
84.6%
2011
78.6%
2010
78.3%
2009
84.1%
2008
75.4%
2007
83.1%
2006
71.9%
2005
80.3%
2004
78.5%
2003
77.6%
2002
68.5%
2001
78.6%
2000
75.9%
1999
79.2%
1998
75.9%
1997

Citroen Ds Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Citroen Ds fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 306
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 168
Headlamp aim too low 157
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 152
Headlamp aim too high 151
Fluid suspension unit leaking 149
position lamp(s) not working 146
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 133
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 128
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 126

Citroen Ds Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Citroen Ds owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
327 mi/yr
Typical
970 mi/yr
Average
2,165 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,317 mi/yr

Citroen Ds MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen Ds year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2016 155 79.4% 30,374 53,300 65,322
2015 125 83.2% 15,960 37,208 69,205
2014 128 83.6% 27,946 41,552 77,632
2013 71 78.9% 33,434 63,804 82,302
2012 65 84.6% 37,473 45,345 54,687
2011 52 84.6% 22,442 55,055 74,136
2010 70 78.6% 21,922 36,645 60,976
2009 60 78.3% 61,090 74,384 78,618
2008 189 84.1% 25,902 44,723 73,108
2007 122 75.4% 37,858 49,804 65,787
2006 89 83.1% 11,014 18,135 72,794
2005 270 71.9% 25,495 55,488 79,751
2004 218 80.3% 12,340 53,932 75,478
2003 172 78.5% 29,686 53,742 69,848
2002 152 77.6% 32,055 70,090 83,144
2001 143 68.5% 27,836 44,680 72,089
2000 159 78.6% 15,458 31,518 45,513
1999 224 75.9% 23,651 46,404 73,535
1998 288 79.2% 16,206 33,928 62,485
1997 266 75.9% 24,072 52,024 77,624

How Long Does a Citroen Ds Last?

Based on 1,007 Citroen Ds vehicles on UK roads.

Average
28.3 years
Median
32.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
60 years

Citroen Ds Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Citroen Ds MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
48,944 mi
75th Percentile
77,351 mi
95th Percentile
96,352 mi
Max Recorded
988,872 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen Ds

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2011

84.6% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

Year to avoid
2001

68.5% MOT pass rate from 143 tests

The best year to buy a used Citroen Ds is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.6% across 52 tests. The 2001 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Citroen Ds Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Citroen Ds THIS CAR 78.6% 7,937 48,944 mi 60 yrs
Citroen Xsara 69.1% 5,047,330 77,497 mi 28 yrs
Citroen Berlingo 70.1% 4,453,235 83,738 mi 29 yrs
Citroen C3 72.7% 4,435,918 53,913 mi 24 yrs
Seat Ibiza FR MPI 87.7% 8,618 29,476 mi — yrs

Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen Ds outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Citroen Ds?

The Citroen Ds has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.6% across 7,937 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Citroen Ds are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (306 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (168), and headlamp aim too low (157). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Citroen Ds owner drives around 970 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Citroen Ds models stay on UK roads for around 60 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Citroen Ds — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citroen Ds reliable?
Based on 7,937 MOT tests, the Citroen Ds has a 78.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Citroen Ds?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and headlamp aim too low. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Citroen Ds do per year?
The typical Citroen Ds does around 970 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Citroen Ds last?
Most Citroen Ds models stay on UK roads for around 60 years based on our analysis of 1,007 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Citroen Ds?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Citroen Ds?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Citroen Ds is 2011 with a 84.6% pass rate across 52 tests.