Large family car · 2007–2020 cars
Citroën DS5 reliability
The Citroën DS5 fails 36.6% of first MOT tests, 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 15,066 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Citroën DS5 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 36.6%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 15% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 15,066
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,300
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Citroën DS5 ages
Each point is the share of Citroën DS5s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Citroën DS5 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 28% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 34.7% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 37.2% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 36.9% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 40.7% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 38.2% | 37.3% |
By year
The best and worst Citroën DS5 years
2012 cars come out best and 2015 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
Common problems
What fails most on a Citroën DS5
Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 73% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension14.7%39% above avg
- Lights and electrics13.7%9% above avg
- Tyres8.4%16% above avg
- Brakes7.4%3% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure5.7%73% above avg
- Steering3.7%63% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.7%18% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.7%11% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.3%59% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken 6.1% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 4.29% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
CV joint boot split or insecure 4.22% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.19% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 5
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.97% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 6
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 2.72% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
- 7
Registration plate lamp not working 2.71% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 8
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.71% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Citroën DS5's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit20.01%
- Brake disc pitted or scored10.07%
- Brake pads wearing thin9.07%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear7.51%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive4.47%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.16%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Citroën DS5
- 1
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 4
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Citroën DS5 covers about 9,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel88.9%
- Hybrid9.9%
- Petrol0.6%
- Electric0.4%
- Other0.2%
Most common colours
White, Grey, Black, Silver, Blue
Average engine size: 1.9 litres.
Compare
How the Citroën DS5 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Arteon | 11.9% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Outback | 25.8% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Exeo | 33.4% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Legacy | 36.7% | 10% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Alfa Romeo 159 | 42.6% | about average for its age |
| Peugeot 406 | 44.2% | 3% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën DS5 | 36.6% | 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Citroën models.
Questions
Citroën DS5 questions, answered
Is the Citroën DS5 reliable?
On MOT results, the Citroën DS5 is below average: it fails 36.6% of first MOT tests, 15% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 29 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Citroën DS5 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Citroën DS5 are coil spring fractured or broken (6.1% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (4.29% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (4.22% of tests). By area, suspension fails 14.7% of its tests.
Which Citroën DS5 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2012 cars do best (10% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2015 cars do worst (19% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Citroën DS5 do a year?
A typical Citroën DS5 covers about 9,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Citroën DS5 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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