Citroën DS3
2010 – 2024 · RDW type S, S*****
In short
At 9–10 years (mostly built 2015–2017) 11.4% of 352 inspected Citroën DS3s had at least one A-problem at the APK, against 4.7% for all cars of the same age. Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 68% more often on this model than on average (rank 304 of 328 in the ranking). Most often it concerns springs and shock absorbers, steering and brakes — springs and shock absorbers occurs 7.8× as often as on comparable cars.
Cite these figures
CarXray.nl (2026). Citroën DS3 — APK defects by age. Based on RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. https://carxray.nl/en/modellen/citroen/ds3/
A-problems
11.4%
n = 352 · 95% CI 8.5 – 15.1%
National, same age
4.7%
n = 877,805 · 95% CI 4.6 – 4.7%
Defects at the APK by age
- Citroën DS3
- National, same age
- 95% confidence interval
| Age | Built (approx.) | n | A-problems | 95% CI | All defects | National A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 years | 2021–2023 | — | insufficient | 1.3% | ||
| 5 – 6 years | 2019–2021 | — | insufficient | 1.9% | ||
| 7 – 8 years | 2017–2019 | — | insufficient | 3.1% | ||
| 9 – 10 years | 2015–2017 | 352 | 11.4% | 8.5 – 15.1% | 43.5% | 4.7% |
| 11 – 12 years | 2013–2015 | 2,891 | 13.0% | 11.8 – 14.2% | 49.7% | 7.2% |
| 13 – 15 years | 2010–2013 | 4,443 | 17.6% | 16.5 – 18.8% | 53.8% | 10.6% |
| 16+ years | 2010 or older | 338 | 17.2% | 13.5 – 21.5% | 48.8% | 15.3% |
Weak spots
What to check extra on this generation.
| Point to check | Share · sample · 95% CI | Vs. same class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springs and shock absorbers | 6.2% · n = 352 · 4.2 – 9.3% | 7.8× | |
| Steering | 3.1% · n = 352 · 1.8 – 5.5% | 8.6× | |
| Brakes | 1.7% · n = 352 · 0.8 – 3.7% | 1.0× |
Open recalls
Check the status of this specific car.
About this generation
- Production years
- 2010 – 2024
- RDW type code(s)
- S, S*****
- Trade name(s)
- DS3
- Registered (type group)
- 3,440
- Generation boundary
- Draft, being checked
See other DS3 generations Similar models
Same type of car and era, at 9–10 years. DS3: 11.4% A-problems.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Citroën DS3 reliable?
The APK tells you about defects, not breakdowns. At 9–10 years 11.4% of inspected Citroën DS3s had at least one A-problem (structure, safety or costly mechanics), against 4.7% nationally at the same age. The maintenance of the specific car matters more than the model.
How does the Citroën DS3 compare with other cars?
Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 68% more often on the Citroën DS3 than on cars of the same age. That puts it at rank 304 of 328 models in the CarXray ranking.
Which model years do these figures cover?
The inspections run from 2025-10 to 2026-09. Cars aged 9–10 years were then mostly built in 2015–2017. The data table shows the build years per age class.
What are the most common problems?
The most common A-problems at the APK are springs and shock absorbers, steering, brakes. See the weak spots above and take them into your checklist.
Take these insights to the viewing
Use our checklist and focus on the key points for this Citroën DS3.