Used DS 3 Cabrio 2015-2022 reliability

The DS 3 has a number of electrical goodies on board, so check that all work as they should. It’ll also have been used predominantly in urban areas, so look for scuffs and dents picked up in car parks, and check the wheels for kerb damage. Make sure the roof is in good condition and operates as it should.

There have been some problems reported; they mostly concerned the front axles becoming detached, minor fuel leaks, loose suspension and the engine cutting out. The previous Citroën DS3 had problems with the timing chain in some engines, so it’s possible that this problem could still exist in later cars; it's worth keeping an eye on.

There have been many recalls. Check that all remedial work has been carried out.

The calibration of the engine management software could result in emissions of NOx which do not comply with the regulatory limits.

The brake vacuum pump might be affected by material detaching from the timing belt.

Front airbag igniters might not deploy correctly.

A component in the gearbox actuator might not be to the correct specification and could affect gear selection.

An oil leak could develop at the turbocharger lubrication union retaining bolt due to a non-conformity of this part.

The calibration of the engine management software could result in emissions of NOx which do not comply with the regulatory limits.

In the event of emergency braking or during an ESP regulation phase (for example, an avoiding manoeuvre), the hydraulic block might not prevent the locking of a wheel, which could affect control of the vehicle.

The operation of the brake vacuum pump might be affected due to material detaching from the timing belt.

Due to a deviation in the production process, certain suspension and steering fixings might not have been tightened to the correct torque.

An engine component might 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 might increase without warning but will stop on its own after a few seconds.

Possible non-conformity in the fuel tank manufacturing process could result in fuel seepage.

The DS 3 didn't feature in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, and nor did DS as a brand. Sister brand Citroën ranked 11th out of 32 manufacturers in the survey, though.

To check out all the results from the latest What Car? Reliability Survey click here.