Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 DS Ds3?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 DS Ds3?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 DS Ds3?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 DS Ds3 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 682 vehicles, the 2021 DS Ds3 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 DS Ds3?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 DS Ds3 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (28.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (26.4% of vehicles), Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (19.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 DS Ds3?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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DS Ds3 (2021)

682 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.9% first-time pass rate

2021 DS Ds3

CarHunch analysed 682 real MOT records for the 2021 DS Ds3. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 DS DS3 is a strong performer with an 88.9% first-time pass rate that sits well above the UK average of 80%, suggesting above-average reliability for the model year. Dangerous defects are rare at 6.3%, so structural or safety concerns shouldn't trouble most buyers, and there's no meaningful difference between petrol (89.1%) and diesel (88.2%) variants.

These cars are running low mileage for their age—averaging 27,043 miles—which explains the healthy pass rate and suggests many are still lightly used. The average of 0.37 failures and 2.0 advisories per test indicates the typical issue is routine wear rather than serious mechanical trouble, so if you're shopping used, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension and minor wear items rather than engine reliability.

The 2021 DS Ds3 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (88.9% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

6.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.37

Over 2.5 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

24k

Middle half: 17k–32k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 682 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 682 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 28.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 19.6%

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Wipers & washers 6.8%

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 682 DS Ds3 cars.

Before you buy a 2021 DS Ds3

Based on MOT data from 682 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 6.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (82%)	558	89.1%	0.36
Diesel (18%)	122	88.2%	0.39

Colour Breakdown

Based on 34,026 DS Ds3 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 26.2%

8,921

Black 21.3%

7,245

Grey 13.7%

4,654

Blue 9.9%

3,381

Purple 9%

3,049

Red 8.7%

2,973

Yellow 4%

1,373

Green 3.2%

1,073

Silver 2.8%

967

Cream 0.8%

258

Gold 0.4%

132

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 DS Ds3 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

24,034

typical

17,288

low mileage

31,675

high mileage

Half of all 2021 DS Ds3 vehicles fall between 17,288 and 31,675 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,288 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 17,288–31,675 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 DS Ds3s sit.

⚠ Over 42,761 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 DS Ds3 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 DS Ds3s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 646 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.37

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — DS Ds3: All Ds3 years → Which year to buy? →

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

Or browse all models: DS →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 DS Ds3 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?