Used buying checklist
Citroen Ds5 reliability, common problems and used buying checks
A used Citroen Ds5 looks worse than average for reliability in UK MOT data: 24.9% of 5,778 tests failed, compared with 18.7% across all indexed models. A good example should have a clean MOT history for suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
Start with suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). MOT data does not capture every reliability issue, especially intermittent engine, gearbox or infotainment faults that do not appear during the test.
- 24.9% MOT failure rate
- Median tested mileage 89,250 miles
- 1,440 failed MOT tests analysed
Suspension and steering is the clearest area to check
Suspension and steering is the clearest named problem area in this model's MOT history (19.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). Example MOT phrases from this area include ball joint excessively worn, ball joint has excessive play, and ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated.
Example MOT phrases to search in the car's history:
- ball joint excessively worn
- ball joint has excessive play
- ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated
- with different aspect ratios are fitted on the same axle.
- inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
- does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps
- inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
- with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning
- leaking excessively from engine
- emissions test not completed because smoke levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values
Focus on suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust
The model's recorded failure rate is 24.9%, +6.2 percentage points compared with the average across all models. Use the seller questions below to check whether repeat MOT notes have actually been repaired.
- MOT tests analysed5,778 tests
- Median tested mileage89,250 miles
- Failed MOT tests1,440
Should you buy a used Citroen Ds5?
75.1% of the MOT tests we analysed for this model passed. The model's recorded failure rate is 24.9%, +6.2 percentage points compared with the average across all models. This is a buying brief for the exact car in front of you: clean repeat history matters more than badge reputation.
- Repeat unresolved MOT notes for suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust
- suspension and steering appearing across more than one MOT
- Any dangerous MOT failure on the exact car, especially if the same area appears again later
- No paperwork showing applicable recall work has been completed
- A seller who cannot explain MOT wording such as "ball joint excessively worn"
It can be, if the exact car has a clean history for suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
Start with suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust, then compare the car's mileage and recall record below.
Suspension and steering is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (19.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Ds5, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
The MOT failure rate rises from 23.9% at 6-10 years to 100.0% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%.
Start with suspension and steering, lights and electrical, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller.
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
What should I check first?
Start with suspension and steering, lights and electrical, emissions, engine, and exhaust, and windscreen, wipers, and mirrors. The checklist on this page explains why each area is being recommended, what to inspect, and what to ask the seller. Each item shows whether it comes from MOT results, recall notices, or a standard used-car check.
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Suspension and steering Seen in MOT results
Suspension and steering is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (19.8 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and inspect steering play.
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Lights and electrical Seen in MOT results
Lights and electrical is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (14.7 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check every lamp, warning light, horn, battery condition, and dashboard messages.
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Emissions, engine, and exhaust Seen in MOT results
Emissions, engine, and exhaust is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (7.3 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check warning lights, smoke, exhaust leaks, recent emissions failures, and service history.
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Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors Seen in MOT results
Windscreen, wipers, and mirrors is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (4.9 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check windscreen damage, wiper operation, washers, mirrors, and demisting.
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Corrosion and structure Seen in MOT results
Corrosion and structure is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (3.1 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Inspect sills, subframes, mounting points, arches, and underside corrosion advisories.
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Tyres and wheels Seen in MOT results
Tyres and wheels is one of the most common MOT problem areas for this model (2.0 MOT notes per 100 tests).
What to check: Check tyre age, tread depth, sidewall damage, wheel condition, and alignment wear.
What changes with mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Ds5, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
Common MOT problem areas
Common faults: what usually fails on this model?
Suspension and steering is the clearest named problem area in the MOT history (19.8 MOT notes per 100 tests). These counts are issue notes, not failure rates, because a single MOT can list several faults.
Recall-related areas to verify
Official recall areas
Manufacturer recall notices for the Citroen Ds5 mainly involve 6 areas: emissions, engine, and exhaust, mixed recall notices, seatbelts and safety systems, and lights and electrical. Treat each as something to verify on the specific car you are viewing; the recall table below shows the official notice text.
Mileage and age checks
Mileage changes: what starts showing up after high mileage?
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Ds5, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust. On lower-mileage cars, the most common named areas are lights and electrical, suspension and steering, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
| Mileage range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-50k | 449 | 361 | 17.4%+6.5 percentage points vs all models | 41,282 miles |
| 50-100k | 3,228 | 2,328 | 24.6%+3.9 percentage points vs all models | 79,205 miles |
| 100-150k | 1,777 | 1,298 | 27.2%+1.0 percentage points vs all models | 116,102 miles |
| 150-200k | 255 | 181 | 27.8%+0.6 percentage points vs all models | 161,764 miles |
| 200k+ | 19 | 14 | 36.8%+10.3 percentage points vs all models | 214,205 miles |
Problem areas by mileage
Past 100k miles on the Citroen Ds5, MOT records most often point to suspension and steering, lights and electrical, and emissions, engine, and exhaust.
| Mileage range | Car areas most often recorded | Specific MOT defect examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50k |
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| 50-100k |
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| 100-150k |
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| 150-200k |
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| 200k+ |
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Fair comparisons: is this problem normal for its age?
The MOT failure rate rises from 23.9% at 6-10 years to 100.0% at 15+ years. Compare the car with the nearest age range before treating a fault as normal wear or a warning sign. The average MOT failure rate across all models in the same dataset is 18.7%. The highest failure rate by age is 100.0% for 15+ years cars, based on 1 tests.
| Age range | Tests | Vehicles | Failure rate (vs all models) | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-10 years 2016–2020 reg. |
3,043 | 2,256 | 23.9%+7.3 percentage points vs all models | 9.2 years |
| 10-15 years 2011–2016 reg. |
2,734 | 1,953 | 26.0%+2.5 percentage points vs all models | 10.6 years |
| 15+ years pre-2011 reg. |
1 | 1 | 100.0%+74.1 percentage points vs all models | 15.4 years |
Recall records and data freshness
Recall context: are there safety notices to know about?
6 relevant recall notices appear for this model. Treat them as safety checks to verify for the exact car, not as normal MOT wear.
| 2025-07-31 | Citroen C4 Citroen DS5 Driver Airbag (Takata) On affected vehicles the Takata airbag inflators may deteriorate over time. This may cause some inflators to rupture with too much force in a crash capable of causing serious injury or death in a worst-case scenario. Replace Driver Airbag module. You are advised not to drive the vehicle. |
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| 2020-09-17 | FRONT AIR BAG IGNITERS MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY Front air bag igniters may not deploy correctly. Check and if necessary replace the affected front airbags. |
| 2019-09-26 | DUE TO THE CALIBRATION OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE NOX EMISSIONS MAY NOT COMPLY WITH REGULATORY LIMITS The calibration of the engine management software could result in emissions of NOx which do not comply with the regulatory limits. Download new engine management software |
| 2018-07-19 | Engine oil gallery sealing plug incorrectly tightened On the affected vehicles the tightening of a sealing plug on the engine oil gallery may not be correct to specification.This could lead over time to an oil leak which in rare cases could result in oil leaking on to the road. The remedy consists of tightening the engine oil gallery sealing plug to the correct torque. |
| 2018-02-13 | ENGINE MAY OVERHEAT The engine electronic cooling management control strategy and the maximum temperature alert threshold could cause the engine to overheat. This could result in a warning light and a message being displayed on the instrument panel. On affected vehicles download a new engine management software in order to modify the cooling management parameters to improve the control of the engine operating temperature. |
| 2017-12-15 | ENGINE COMPONENT MAY NOT BE TO SPECIFICATION An engine component may not be to specification which could result in loss of engine performance. This may lead to the engine stalling and potentially causing an engine failure. In very unlikely circumstances the vehicle speed may increase without warning but will stop on its own after a few seconds. On affected vehicles carry out a functional diagnostic check of the engine. If necessary replace the engine. |
Related searches
Common ways people look up the Citroen Ds5. Each link runs the search and lands on the relevant section of this report.
Related reliability guides
See where this model sits against other Citroen reports by MOT failure rate and common problem area.
Compare high-confidence model reports across all makes.
Use the fleet mileage baseline before checking this model's own mileage table.
Compare this model's age pattern with the wider MOT baseline.
Sources used: DVSA MOT tests (Apr 2026); vehicle recalls (Apr 2026); MOT fault wording (May 2025). These are patterns from many MOT tests and recall notices. They help you decide what to inspect and what to ask; they do not certify the condition of one specific car.