Citroen DS5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Citroen DS5 car check
Is the Citroen DS5 reliable? We analysed 61,361 real MOT tests across 5,141 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Citroen DS5? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Citroen DS5 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Citroen DS5.
Citroen DS5 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Citroen DS5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Citroen DS5 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Citroen DS5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Citroen DS5 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Citroen DS5 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Citroen DS5 Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Citroen DS5 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Citroen DS5 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Citroen DS5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Citroen DS5 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Citroen DS5 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 82 | 78.0% | 37,916 | 56,824 | 79,142 |
| 2015 | 4,313 | 79.4% | 36,502 | 54,872 | 77,873 |
| 2014 | 13,058 | 77.3% | 44,511 | 64,901 | 88,440 |
| 2013 | 25,945 | 75.3% | 51,462 | 74,019 | 99,296 |
| 2012 | 17,605 | 76.3% | 49,856 | 75,701 | 103,406 |
| 2011 | 57 | 73.7% | 43,482 | 64,215 | 79,531 |
How Long Does a Citroen DS5 Last?
Based on 5,141 Citroen DS5 vehicles on UK roads.
Citroen DS5 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Citroen DS5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Citroen DS5
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
79.4% MOT pass rate from 4,313 tests
73.7% MOT pass rate from 57 tests
The best year to buy a used Citroen DS5 is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.4% across 4,313 tests. The 2011 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Citroen DS5 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroen DS5 THIS CAR | 76.3% | 61,361 | 71,006 mi | 14 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 |
| Yamaha GPD125-A Nmax 125 Abs | 84.2% | 38,116 | 34,873 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Citroen Xsara (69.1% pass rate) and the Citroen Berlingo (70.1% pass rate), the Citroen DS5 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Citroen DS5 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Citroen DS5Should you buy a used Citroen DS5?
The Citroen DS5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.3% across 61,361 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 640 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Citroen DS5 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Citroen DS5 owner drives around 7,217 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 DS5 models stay on UK roads for around 14 years. 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.