Citroen DS3
Registered from 2008 to 2024.
About this model
The Citroën DS3 WRC is the World Rally Car built for the Citroën World Rally Team by Citroën Racing for use from the 2011 World Rally Championship season. It is based upon the Citroën DS3 road car, and replaced the highly successful Citroën C4 WRC. It was built to the new World Rally Car regulations for 2011, which were based upon the existing Super 2000 regulations, but is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine rather than the normally aspirated 2-litre engine found in Super 2000 cars.
From the Wikipedia article Citroën DS3 WRC, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The manufacturer has told owners of 2 of these to stop driving until the repair is done.
- The propellant in the driver and passenger airbags may deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident in which the airbags deploy, it could rupture with too much force, injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
- The propellant in the driver and passenger airbags may deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident in which the airbags deploy, it could rupture with too much force, injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2014 1.6 diesel. 3,576 of 12,396 tests failed, 29%.
Better than 2% of 2014 cars. The typical one fails 17%, across 870 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body and structure | 46% | 1,648 |
| Suspension | 44% | 1,588 |
| Lights and electrics | 33% | 1,168 |
| Tyres and wheels | 24% | 866 |
| Brakes | 18% | 657 |
| Steering | 15% | 537 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Where it stands out against its peers
- Body and structure: failed more often than 98% of 2014 cars — 46% of its 3,576 failed tests, where an ordinary 2014 car has 6%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 44% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Tyres and wheels — 24% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brakes — 18% of its failures
- Steering — 15% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
- Lights and electrics — 33% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Body and structure — 46% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 160–180k miles this one fails 29% of its inspections, against the 23% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 15% | 7% | 40 | |
| 20–40k miles | 24% | 11% | 649 | |
| 40–60k miles | 26% | 15% | 2,552 | |
| 60–80k miles | 29% | 19% | 4,011 | |
| 80–100k miles | 30% | 21% | 2,990 | |
| 100–120k miles | 32% | 23% | 1,404 | |
| 120–140k miles | 31% | 23% | 535 | |
| 140–160k miles | 28% | 23% | 148 | |
| 160–180k miles | 29% | 23% | 42 |
12,371 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1.2 petrol · 102 hp · 1119 kg · 2452 mm wheelbase · 6.2 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 1.2 petrol · 80 hp · 1055 kg · 2452 mm wheelbase · 4.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1.2 petrol · 97 hp · 1124 kg · 2452 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 1.6 diesel · 98 hp · 1187 kg · 2452 mm wheelbase · 3.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.6 diesel · 94 hp · 1213 kg · 2452 mm wheelbase · 3.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.6 petrol · 137 hp · 1230 kg · 2453 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.6 diesel · 98 hp · 1211 kg · 2453 mm wheelbase · 3.8 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 1.6 diesel · 97 hp · 1199 kg · 2450 mm wheelbase · 4.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2010 | 1.6 diesel · 1183 kg · 2441 mm wheelbase · 4.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
- Do not drive
EM/00004/24
The propellant in the driver and passenger airbags may deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident in which the airbags deploy, it could rupture with too much force, injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Request to stop driving
- Do not drive
EM/00006/24
The propellant in the driver and passenger airbags may deteriorate over time. In the event of an accident in which the airbags deploy, it could rupture with too much force, injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Request to stop driving
A12/01042/21
The vacuum pump may be damaged by certain materials resulting from chemical corrosion of the timing belt associated with degraded oil.That can lead to reduction or loss of braking assistance, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not meet the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01186/21
The teeth of the timing belt may wear off prematurely due to excessive dynamic tension in dusty conditions. As a result, the engine may stall at high engine speeds and not being able to restart, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not meet the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01369/21
The propellant airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high-temperature cycling. In the event of an airbag being deployed, the excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to rupture and metal fragments may pass through the cushion material causing injury to the occupants. The product does not meet the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02725/24
A crack located inside the Electric Power Steering motor of the steering rack can cause plastic parts to detach from the worm wheel. This can lead to a steering blockage, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02826/24
In certain vehicles fitted with the DV5R E6.3 engine, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are above the regulatory limits. Excessive NOx emissions pose a risk to the environment. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02927/23
Due to an error in the specific calibration software of the electronic engine control unit (ECU), an incorrect value may be given when the data are processed by the vehicle. This may result in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions that are above the regulatory limits. Excessive NOx emissions pose a risk to the environment. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
5 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.