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DS DS 5 problems (2011–2018)

The only engine of the DS DS 5 that we have documented, the 1.6 HDi, has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the versions it is fitted to: «With caution».[1][2][3][4][5]

Outside the engine: Outside the engine, according to reports on fiches-auto.fr the DS5 (2011-2018) stands out for front tyres that wear out early and electronics and multimedia faults; there are also cases of vibration when braking. We have not found independent studies or verifiable campaigns.[6][7]

DS DS 5 (2011–2018)
Photo: User3204 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468105.7out of 10

DS DS 5 rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 10 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. Limited evidence: it is based on few sources or few documented faults, so it is not included in the rankings. Having few documented faults does not mean it is reliable: it may simply be little studied. How it is calculated

  • Engine3.76 faults
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension8.8Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.5 times the defects normal for its age
  • Brakes8.11 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Tyres and wheels9.31 fault
  • Steering7.8Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electrical system10.0No documented faults
  • Headlights and lights6.9Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.2 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electronics and infotainment8.92 faults
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior7.9Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults

The weak points of the DS DS 5

  1. 1High severity: Timing belt failure and premature wear1.6 HDi engine
  2. 2Medium severity: AdBlue tank and pump fault (1.6 BlueHDi)1.6 HDi engine · repair €1,000–€1,200
  3. 3Medium severity: Leaks at the injector washers and carbon build-up in the cylinder head1.6 HDi engine · repair €110–€310
  4. 4Medium severity: Jerking and injection faults on the 1.6 e-HDi 112/115 (Continental injectors)1.6 HDi engine
  5. 5Medium severity: Additive-fed particulate filter (Eolys cerine): depleted additive and clogging1.6 HDi engine · repair €100–€1,500

Documented engine

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

17 sourcesHow we work

1.6 HDi

PSA/Ford 1.6 HDi, e-HDi, TDCi and BlueHDi (DV6) · Diesel

In the DS 5
2011–2018[8][9][10]
Names
1.6 e-HDi 115 · 1.6 BlueHDi 120
Faults that affect it
6 · 1 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
63
High risk

Verdict for the versions it uses

  • 1.6 HDi / e-HDi 112/115 8V (DV6C, 2010-2015)2010–2015 · 112–115 hp · DV6C, DV6CTED, 9HR

    With caution

    More reliable than the 16V engines on the turbo, but you need to check PSA's action on the belt (units from October 2010 to September 2011) and whether the 2011-2014 Continental injectors were replaced.[1][2]

  • 1.6 BlueHDi 75/100/120 (DV6FE / DV6FD / DV6FC, 2013-2019)2013–2019 · 75–120 hp · DV6FC, DV6FD, DV6FE, DV6FCTED, DV6FDTED

    With caution

    The mechanics derive from the 8V engines, but the AdBlue system is its main source of faults; check that there are no emissions warnings and whether the car falls within Stellantis's extended warranty.[3][4][5]

Faults that affect the DS 5

Only those that affect the versions and years that this car used. The 1.6 HDi has 7 documented faults in total.

  1. High severityFrequency: Very frequentTimingTiming belt failure and premature wearOn the 8-valve 1.6 HDi/e-HDi 112/115 built between October 2010 and September 2011 the belt could break and leave the car stranded. PSA covered the repair and in 2014 preventively replaced the belt and crankshaft sprocket on those that had passed 120,000 km.
  2. Medium severityFrequency: Very frequentEmissions controlAdBlue tank and pump fault (1.6 BlueHDi)The 1.6 BlueHDi engines (2013-2019) suffer from the AdBlue tank defect of Stellantis diesels: an emissions warning appears with a countdown until starting is prevented. Replacing the tank, with the integrated pump, costs over €1,000 (price in Spain), but there is an extended warranty of up to 8 years.Repair: €1,000–€1,200
  3. Medium severityFrequency: CommonInjectionLeaks at the injector washers and carbon build-up in the cylinder headIt is common for the copper washers of the 1.6 HDi injectors to stop sealing: the engine blows gases, carbon forms around the injector and soot gets into the oil. It is cheap to repair, but if left it contaminates the oil and is one of the causes of turbo failure.Repair (garage): €110–€310
  4. Medium severityFrequency: CommonInjectionJerking and injection faults on the 1.6 e-HDi 112/115 (Continental injectors)The 112 and 115 hp 1.6 HDi/e-HDi built between late 2011 and February 2014 can jerk and turn on the engine warning light because of an internal electrical defect in their Continental injectors. PSA covered their replacement depending on age and mileage.
  5. Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlAdditive-fed particulate filter (Eolys cerine): depleted additive and cloggingThe DPF on the 1.6 HDi and BlueHDi works with an additive (cerine) that runs out at 80,000-120,000 km and has to be topped up for around €100-120 (price in Spain). With a lot of town use the filter clogs and the warning appears; if it is left, a new DPF costs around €1,500.Repair (garage): €100–€1,500Appears at around 80,000 km
  6. Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlDirty EGR valve and EGR cooler leaksThe 1.6 HDi EGR valve gets dirty easily, especially in town use, and causes jerking and stalling at idle. On the 8V engines the EGR cooler also fails, consuming coolant with no visible leaks.

DS 5 1.6 HDi pageAll versions and faults of the 1.6 HDi

Faults of the DS DS 5 outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the DS DS 5

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 2,207 inspections of 863 cars registered between 2011 and 2018, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 1.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 4%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 3.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 4.2%.

    Average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 1.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.6%.

    Average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 19.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 16.1%.

    Average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.2%.

    Average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 2.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.8%.

    More defects than average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 8.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 2.3%.

    Many more defects than average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 3.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 4.1%.

    Average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 21.5% of inspections; in cars of its age, 16.6%.

    More defects than average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used DS DS 5

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the 1.6 HDi (2011–2018)

Timing belt failure and premature wear

High severity

AdBlue tank and pump fault (1.6 BlueHDi)

Medium severity

Leaks at the injector washers and carbon build-up in the cylinder head

Medium severity

Jerking and injection faults on the 1.6 e-HDi 112/115 (Continental injectors)

Medium severity

Additive-fed particulate filter (Eolys cerine): depleted additive and clogging

Medium severity

Dirty EGR valve and EGR cooler leaks

Medium severity

Wear parts for the DS DS 5

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

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Buying a DS DS 5?

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Own a DS DS 5? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DS DS 5 reliable?

The only engine of the DS DS 5 that we have documented, the 1.6 HDi, has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the versions it is fitted to: «With caution». Outside the engine, according to reports on fiches-auto.fr the DS5 (2011-2018) stands out for front tyres that wear out early and electronics and multimedia faults; there are also cases of vibration when braking. We have not found independent studies or verifiable campaigns.

What problems does the DS DS 5 have apart from the engine?

Outside the engine, according to reports on fiches-auto.fr the DS5 (2011-2018) stands out for front tyres that wear out early and electronics and multimedia faults; there are also cases of vibration when braking. We have not found independent studies or verifiable campaigns. The most important documented faults are: steering wheel vibration when braking (brakes, medium severity), premature wear of the front tyres (tyres and wheels, low severity), door handle sensor and keyless entry failure (electronics and infotainment, low severity) and multimedia system, GPS and reversing camera failure (electronics and infotainment, low severity).[6][7]

What faults does the DS DS 5 have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: timing belt failure and premature wear (1.6 HDi, high severity), adBlue tank and pump fault (1.6 BlueHDi) (1.6 HDi, medium severity), leaks at the injector washers and carbon build-up in the cylinder head (1.6 HDi, medium severity), jerking and injection faults on the 1.6 e-HDi 112/115 (Continental injectors) (1.6 HDi, medium severity) and additive-fed particulate filter (Eolys cerine): depleted additive and clogging (1.6 HDi, medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a DS DS 5?

According to our rating by year, the best are 2018, 2017 and 2016 (6.9/10); the worst rated is 2014 (5.7/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité Citroën Peugeot. Le bloc 1.6 HDi 8 soupapes est-il fiable ? (1.6 HDi 112/115)L'argus · Motoring press · published 23 March 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  2. Essai, avis et fiabilité des 1.6 HDI 112 chFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  3. Fiabilité 1.6 BlueHDIFiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · published 9 December 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  4. Adblue : problèmes en pagaille ?Fiches-Auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  5. OCU y BEUC consiguen que Stellantis amplíe la garantía de los coches con AdBlueOCU · Consumer association · published 27 December 2024 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  6. Tous les problèmes sur Ds DS5 2011-2018 (290 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  7. DS 5 (Wikipedia, fr)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  8. Fiabilité Citroën Peugeot. Le bloc 1.6 HDi 8 soupapes est-il fiable ?L'argus · Motoring press · published 23 March 2015 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  9. Peugeot DV6CTED engine: specifications and applicationsMyMotorList · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026
  10. Motor Peugeot DV6FCTED: especificaciones y aplicacionesMyMotorList · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Plan d'entretien 308 (T9) Diesel 1.6 BlueHDi 100 S&S BVM5Peugeot (documento alojado en forum-peugeot.com) · Manufacturer · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  12. PSA 1.5-1.6-2.0 BlueHDi. Défaut du réservoir d'Adblue pris en chargeL'argus · Motoring press · published 6 March 2021 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  13. Compensaciones para los usuarios de vehículos Citroën, DS, Opel y Peugeot afectados por un fallo de fabricación de los depósitos AdBlueConsumo Responde (Junta de Andalucía) · Official body · published April 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  14. Boletín de servicio: sustitución del turbo en motores DV6 (versión reducida de la Información de servicio nº 77)Turbotec · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Changer les joints d'injecteurs 1.6 HDI : procédure et étapesInjecteurland · Technical documentation · published 23 January 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
  16. El filtro de partículas en motores diéselMidcar · Technical documentation · published 18 October 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  17. Cómo funciona el filtro de partículas de PSACarbon Cleaner · Other source · published 13 February 2020 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish