Citroën DS3 Owner Reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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I have had a lot of cars, including several old bangers and this is the worst car I've ever had. Absolute dog of a car. Yes it looks nice and handles fine. But the fact that it is economical on fuel is more than offset by the fact that I have spent a fortune in the garage on several problems. I got at 30,000 miles, in good nick and fsh etc. The ecosystem, which basically at that age of the model wasn't up to the job but never recalled, made the alternator tensioner and alternator belt fail before it had done 35,000 miles. Then came a problem with the cv joint, it had to be replaced as it was making awful knocking sounds. More money spent. Now less than a year later at 62,000 miles the driver-side suspension spring has completely snapped. The car is undriveable. So at less miles than Kia does a warranty for (I believe) I have been towed away three times. I cannot recommend.

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An absolutely beautiful car to look at inside and out. However, I've had nothing but trouble with engine management faults over past year for a car that had only 20,000 miles on the clock. Two recalls for the thermostat and cooling pump, too. It has cost me over £1,000 to repair and needed repeated trips to the workshop for a coil pack and a sensor to do with emissions. When it did run right it was fab but sadly I lost faith in it and realised it could cost a small fortune. I'm disappointed overall. It's a lovely looking car but the engine seems delicate and unreliable.

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My DS 3 has cost me a fortune. First the timing chain cost £13,00, then a fuel pump and other works to the engine cost me £600 and now an engine de-coke at £2,000. Its only done 40,000 miles! Several times Citroen has damaged the vehicle further when in repair and have refused to do anything about it. Citroen has been useless. Very expensive with poor customer service. This car has cost me a fortune and is unreliable.

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It looks good, is reasonably economical on fuel and drives very well - when its working. Sadly, in the time I have had it has cost a fortune. The timing chain had to be replaced after less then 30 miles, the suspension had to be rebuilt and now the fuel and water pump have gone. Citroen found it hard to diagnose the problem and firstly tried to tell me that the engine needed blasting as it was coked up, at a cost of around £2k! I have never had a car that has had so much wrong with it in such a short time. Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless you have very deep pockets. Also, Citroen dealers are not reliable and charge ridiculous prices and don't do a very good job.

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I love driving this car. It is fast and can accelerate quickly too! I use it on motorways for work, and I feel it drives well both around town and on motorways. Unfortunately, even though it's only done about 30,000 miles I recently had to have about £900 worth of work done to it. The main cost being it needed a new timing chain, which is a labour intensive job. This has made me a bit anxious about further work it may need down the line! Shame as I do love the car. A minor drawback is that it has not got a cup holder! I don't find it expensive in respect of petrol, and insurance is not too bad either (but I am a 40 year old female)

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I've had this car for 3 years, and it is generally very good. I do a 60 mile commute to work involving urban and motorway driving, which it takes in its stride. It pulls very well on the motorway and is never short of power. It looks stunning in Belle-Isle blue. The main problems I have had with it are having to replace all four discs and pads and just had to replace the suspension springs on both front wheels at 30k (£372), This does seem a lot of things needing replacing on a car with low mileage. Generally though I am very pleased with the DS3 and considering getting another.

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For the first year this car surpassed my expectation but after that it went downhill. A number of problems, not covered by the warranty. A suspension clip broke and they confiscated the car for a week as it was not fit to drive - i felt i was lucky to be alive, just after a weeks holiday in the Lakes. Brakes needed work even with a very low mileage - then i started having problems with the seat movement - the investigation costs £750, and is a common problem - at this point I gave up. The dealership was expensive and last event cost me £112 to fix an oil leak which involved a 57p seal. The build is poor - it had an unfathomable rattle. Things fells off. It has lowered my opinion of French cars after driving a Peugot for some years (built in The UK then of course)

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After having car for 1 year my abs pump and control unit went on car despite car only having 30000 on clock rang main dealer where I bought car couldn't be more arrogant and less helpful disgusted with their service and disgusting quote of £ 1475.00 to fix. Got rid of car; pile of rubbish - dealer even worse.

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Absolutely fantastic car! Not a rattle or problem at all and as a 17 year old the insurance is very good, even without a black box. With this particular model, there are lots of features, such as the electric folding mirrors and the automatic lights and wipers, that make the experience of driving it very relaxing and enjoyable. The seats are lovely and comfortable and the ride is very smooth. I also get a lot of people commenting on how good it looks and how stylish it is, especially with the roof being a different colour to the rest of the car. The garage (W.R.Davies) were very helpful when purchasing the car and made the whole experience very easy and stress free. Very good car overall and would definitely recommend.

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Marvellous little car, very high quality and THP engine is a gem with astonishing power when you need it without being thirsty. NOTHING has gone wrong. The are NO squeaks or rattles. The LED headlights are fantastic. The seats are excellent and whole the ride is firm it's not crashy or uncomfortable..

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Dreadful. It's been towed so often it thinks it's a caravan. Whilst it looks beautiful it seems to have an engine made of glass. I often do long motorway journeys so am probably going to get rid of this car after less than 12 months ownership. It simply is a gamble if you will get back or not. It's had two lots of recall work and had to have major repairs done. The most significant was a timing chain issue. This really isn't good on a three year old car. To sum up if you want one join a breakdown service you will need it.

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Was a great car, until it started its engine fault problem. Currently waiting for Citroen to give their opinion, but it has fuel sensor issue, fan cooling issue (the fan runs constantly), time and date are flashing and it won't accelerate at all (even though it's a turbo engine). Really not happy with car, or with service from Citreon dealerships. Avoid at all costs.

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This is my second DS3 and is the nicest car I have driven in over 50 years of motoring. It has adequate power and remarkable fuel economy from its diesel engine and its emissions result in zero road tax. The 6 speed gearbox is sweet and I have yet to find the limits of the road holding although a bumpy surface encountered whilst cornering enthusiastically will upset the handling. The driving position is ideal for me and 300 mile nonstop journeys are fine due to the supportive leather seats. The styling both interior and exterior is fabulous and does not seem to date. My first DS3, again a Dsport was one of the first on the road and it literally drew little crowds of people when parked. I have not experienced any reliability problems with both diesel cars. My current car was fairly high spec and therefore towards the top of the price range and the initial depreciation was horrendous. The dealer I purchased it from offered me less than half the purchase price against a DS5 after only 18 months so I am keeping my DS3 despite the only drawback I have with the car which is rear access and legroom. Getting my two grandsons into car seats in the DS is not for the faint hearted. I would buy another DS3 as it is an all round good car which always puts a smile on my face.

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Brought this car 2 days ago and haven't stopped smiling since. The acceleration is absolutely ridiculous and great fun to drive.. Also insurance is very cheap for my 18 young years on this planet at just under £1000 without a telematics box. Engine sounds great and pulls like a train, whilst the inside of the car feels almost silent at any speed. You'll love this car Get one!

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Every owner of this car loves it and I've lost count of how many people compliment the look of the car, especially when I had happy yellow. So its popular too. But I've noticed that at first the DS3 had loads of equipment as standard, but now these are optional extras, so i guess Citroën didn't know how successful this car would be. It's popular with both men and women and for less than £20,000 there is nothing with the specifications that come as standard. Everything else that I've looked at doesn't have the same quality as the Citroën. Plus it looks fantastic and lots of fun to drive.

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Bought my car new last year to find out only 2 days later it was accident damaged. I was horrified and the dealer swapped it for another car then 9 weeks ago the engine went pop they rebuilt it but still didn't no what caused it. I sold the car back to them today very unhappy and lost my deposit.

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so far so good

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Very reliable little car, safe and comfortable

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No Red thumbs down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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The only fault that has occured was an engine sensor but i was still able to drive the vehicle normally untill repaired by the dealer.

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I lease this car for my driving instructor job, this is my 2nd ds3 and will be my last, after covering 15000 miles in 4 mths the car started to show elec fault which was caused by the wiring harness catching the seat frame and causing a short, the whole harness had to be changed, however there was no parts in the uk so the part had to ordered and the manufactured in France[ so was off the road for just over 2 weeks and then after another week the fan belt tensioners gave up and these had to be changed, off the road again for a car costing this price and being only 4-5 months old not a happy instructor. I have in the past used A ford [ no problems in 3 years ] a corsa no problems in 18 months ,

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Citroen have a bad press, as do all French cars - I was sceptical about having one. However the car has been fantastic, obviously no breakdowns yet, but things like no squeaks and rattles mean I can happily give this car a 5

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all good, no faults...

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No problems whatsoever

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has completely stoped for no reason,battery had to e disconnected

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An amazing car, with plenty of pros. Wanted to write a review and say how amazed we are with the safety concept of the car. We managed to spin and flip in an accident, and looking at the pics we are amazed we got out of it with minor injuries!! I was 10 weeks pregnant when the crash happened but i was so protected and the baby is totally fine! Airbags deployed on impact as they should and the seats protected our body from moving around. Thank you very much Citroen.

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It is a very reliable little car had no problems with it.

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no problems so far

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Only just done 7,000 miles, But fuse blew for the windscreen wipers after 3 months and discovered Citroen only supplied 3 spare fuses, not which were suitable, so I had to swap my fuses around so I could use the wipers. Dealer told me Citroen as a policy don't supply spare fuses. Also 'ipod' connectivity, which is actually a USB slot, is prone to not working.

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No issues in 36000 miles

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Excellent

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Bought this for my 18 year old, couldn't insure for a decent price till 19. Very nippy - alot faster than acclaimed 9.7 seconds to 60 more like 7.5/8. Returning 48 mpg doing short trips around town which is amazing. Gorgeous looking, interior is unbelievable ans as its the DSport model.the seats are so comfy (frinds saying never been in a car so comfy and the posture of the back) Overall 10/10 amazing performance ans economy mixed with style and looks. Very impressed.

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Have only had the car for 6 weeks. But all good so far.

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I got this car via my Motability upgrade, as I needed a new car, and wanted something which could hold my wheelchair in the boot, and still 4 passengers, as I don't drive the car, my carer does however, and she loves the car, it uses around £40 in petrol a month, and gets used around 3 or 4 times a week for various smaller journeys, such as home to the doctors, home to the pharmacy, home to do the weekly shop, and home to go to various meetings, and out with friends. It's a very smooth drive, and whilst you do feel the bumps, the smaller ones can barely be felt, and the bigger ones can be felt, but nowhere near as bad as you'd expect for a Citroèn, I have a very bad back, and bumps are one of my worst nightmares whilst driving. However, whilst almost every journey does cause me pain, it is nowhere near as bad as it could be for a car of this size. I transfer to this car from my wheelchair, and it is quite an easy process, but could be improved, as is mentioned by other reviews on this site, the optional upgrades are very expensive, but some of them are worth it. I added the satnav and the driver and passenger handsfree bluetooth system, which works very well, and as you can barely hear the road when in the car normally, is something I'd definitely recommend. Absolutely no problems experienced with the car so far, had a complementary winter tyres check completed in October 2012, along with a few other little checks and it passed with flying colours, as you'd expect with a new car. The car is barely broken in, having only done 750 miles in a little over a year. I can't really get enthuastic enough about this car, it really has made my life a whole lot easier, and with the very low cost to run the car, it's well worth getting one if you are looking for a car which is this size.

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Never had an issue

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Brought new thp155+ ds3 , after 7 months had new cam chain, and since then a new light sensor, turbo pump, temperature sensor, and some new wiring, and now another cam chain. Don't touch the petrol engines, Citroen won't take car back. Not happy. But saying that, nice looking car

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No Red thumbs down

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Love this car, went with my brother for him to test drive, ended up trading my Renault Twingo for one.Fill up once a month if I'm lucky, so just about hitting the £50 barrier. Have just returned from a week driving it in France. Very economical and smooth to drive. Not great headroom in the back for tall people, decent size boot. Only had one issue with the car stopping, managed to drive it back to the garage where it was fixed - dodgy diesel apparently. currently debating on trading in for a newer model or to stick with what I have. Have driven it in all weathers, it sticks to the road. Love it.

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Completely agree with top gear and fifth gear awarding the ds3 the small car of the year - i love mine!

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Fantastic

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I really do love my car, when i say it is a citroen people laugh and ask if it has broken down yet, then they get in it and change their mind, they love it. It is stylish, fun and cool, and great to drive. With the added bonus of £30 tax a year and 70mpg!! What more could a girl ask for!?

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Great to drive, fantastic build quality. Very comfortable and handles very well. I have no complaints at all.

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The best car i've had in 40 years of driving. Looks good and is fun to drive.

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This is my 3rd citroen and so far the best. For a small car it has been fantastic. I really like how i was able to make it my own. It is a delight to drive in a variety of situations whether it be city or long motorway journeys. I am also very impressed with just how solid the build quality is as well.

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A beautiful package of economy and reliability, with a sporty feel. The ride is firm, but comfortable, the seats hug you and when you want to go the car can shift. Practical and gorgeous to look at. I have absolutley no complaints. The best car i have ever driven!

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Best small car have ever bought

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It's head turning, fun, funky, new and a great reliable drive

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The citroen ds3 1.6 thp dsport is an amazing small car. It has sporty handling without being too hard (slightly jittery ride on bumps), it is comfortable on the motorway and the in-car entertainment - sat/nav system is more than adequate. Fuel consumption is reasonable if performance is taken into account. In terms of practicality, it has plenty of space for 4 adults and their luggage (as long as they are around and below 6 ft tall). And then there's the design flair which is evident everywhere you look both on the inside and the outside. Quality of build seems to be very good and approaching teutonic standards. In conclusion: Pros: great engine and gearbox package, spacious, design flair, quality, playful handling, running costs. Cons: thirsty when pushed, jittery ride on urban roads with bumps and potholes.

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Not long had my ds3 but really like the performance and look of the car.

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My ds3 thp is absolutely brilliant! It's great fun to drive, with a terrific blend of performance, handling and ride comfort, funky to look at (especially in yellow and black!), Stylish, comfortable and well-equipped on the interior, and it has been 100% reliable over the first year of ownership. Citroen has got it's mojo back!

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Very chic

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Great little car with some teething problems. Has had to have a new fuel pump. Poor afterservice. "premium" car. Not a premium service.

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It's a well build, stylish, practical, comfortable, fun to drive car. Little bigger but far more spacious than a mini and far more comfortable. Deservedley the top gear car of the year, and definately mine.

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Fab

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Fantastic, best car that i have ever owned. so much better than the bmw mini that i had before this one.

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Great to look at. Great to drive. Puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. Only gripe is the lack of cup holders ! Would definitely recommend this car

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A fine little car!

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Citroën DS3 owner reviews

"The DS 3 stands out in the upmarket supermini market thanks to its practicality, style, fun-to-drive character and well built interior"

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