Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Hyeonminha, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Premium urban SUV with a 350 L boot, offered in PureTech petrol, BlueHDi diesel and E-Tense electric. It inherits the serious documented faults of Stellantis engines (timing belt and oil on the 1.2 PureTech, chain on the 1.5 BlueHDi), several safety recalls (power steering, fuel line) and, in the electric version, the on-board charger fault. Check recalls and servicing before buying.
- Reliability
- 2.0/5
- Indicative prices
- €12,000 – €21,000
- Monthly cost
- €377
- Euro NCAP
- 4/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: PureTech 130 EAT8.
PureTech 100
Petrol · Manual · 100 hp · Crit'Air 1
1.2 PureTech turbo with 100 hp, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Prefer a car built after June 2022 (new-generation belt).
Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)
Verdict on this engine: Buy with care
PureTech 130 EAT8
✓ RecommendedPetrol · Automatic · 130 hp · 5.0 L/100 km · 115 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1
1.2 PureTech with 130 hp, only available with the 8-speed EAT8 automatic gearbox. According to La Revue Automobile, the EAT8 gearbox is generally reliable, and attention should focus mainly on the first model years.
Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)
Verdict on this engine: Buy with care
PureTech 155 EAT8
Petrol · Automatic · 155 hp · Crit'Air 1
1.2 PureTech with 155 hp and EAT8 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Engine: Stellantis 1.2 PureTech (EB2)
Verdict on this engine: Buy with care
BlueHDi 100
Diesel · Manual · 100 hp · Crit'Air 2
1.5 diesel with 100 hp and 250 Nm, only with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Engine: Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)
Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first
BlueHDi 130 EAT8
Diesel · Automatic · 130 hp · Crit'Air 2
1.5 diesel with 130 hp and 300 Nm, EAT8 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Engine: Stellantis 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5)
Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first
E-Tense 136 ch
Electric · Automatic · 136 hp · Crit'Air green
Electric with 136 hp (100 kW) and 260 Nm, 50 kWh battery, announced WLTP range of 341 km. Sold from autumn 2019. Check the recalls and AC charging (on-board charger).
E-Tense 156 ch
Electric · Automatic · 156 hp · Crit'Air green
Electric with 156 hp (115 kW) introduced with the 2023 facelift (named DS 3 without 'Crossback'), 54 kWh battery and announced WLTP range of 402 km.
Market prices
€12,000 – €21,000
Indicative range: 2019 to 2023, approx. 17,000 to 135,000 km, dealer listings.
Collected on 12 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Known faults
Degradation of the 'wet' timing belt (1.2 PureTech)
Severity 3/3 · SeriousOn the 1.2 PureTech, the timing belt runs in oil and can disintegrate. Its debris clogs the oil pickup, causing oil pressure to drop, which can destroy the engine. Stellantis extended the belt warranty to 10 years or 175,000 km, subject to servicing conditions, and introduced a new-generation belt in June 2022.
- Versions
- PureTech 100, PureTech 130 EAT8, PureTech 155 EAT8
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Sources
- Extension de garantie sur les moteurs PureTech — Test-Achats (new tab)
- Le moteur PureTech profite d'une extension de garantie — Caradisiac (new tab)
- 1.2 PureTech : Stellantis prêt à dialoguer avec les plaignants ? — J2R Auto (new tab)
- Propriétaires de moteurs PureTech : ce voyant cache une panne — L'Automobiliste (new tab)
Premature wear of the timing chain (1.5 BlueHDi)
Severity 3/3 · SeriousOn the 1.5 BlueHDi (DV5), the timing chain can stretch prematurely due to oil carbonisation; the first sign is a rattle on cold start-up. A break can damage the engine. Vehicles produced between 6 December 2017 and 31 January 2023 are subject to a recall.
- Versions
- BlueHDi 100, BlueHDi 130 EAT8
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Excessive oil consumption (1.2 PureTech)
Severity 2/3 · CostlyBeyond belt wear, the 1.2 PureTech is known for high oil consumption, which can cause engine damage if the level is not monitored. According to Caradisiac, engines produced from 2023 onwards are no longer affected.
- Versions
- PureTech 100, PureTech 130 EAT8, PureTech 155 EAT8
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
On-board charger failure (AC charging) on E-Tense
Severity 2/3 · CostlyStellantis has acknowledged a fault in the 11 kW on-board charger made by Mahle, which can interrupt or prevent AC charging, sometimes without a warning light. L'argus cites the Peugeot e-208 and e-2008 first and estimates that the problem probably extends to the DS 3. A 2022 recall (998 DS 3 Crossback E-Tense produced from 4 May 2019 to 29 September 2020) for an unintended high-voltage power cut while driving provides for a software update, but sometimes replacement of the on-board charger.
- Versions
- E-Tense 136 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Sources
- Peugeot e-208 et e-2008. La défaillance du chargeur embarqué pris en charge par Stellantis — L'argus (new tab)
- Stellantis faces mounting complaints over faulty onboard chargers — NewMobility (new tab)
- Chargeur embarqué groupe Stellantis — Forum Automobile Propre (new tab)
- Peugeot e-208, e-2008, DS 3 e-Tense. Un rappel de 5 761 exemplaires — L'argus (new tab)
Recall: cracked electric power steering motor (steering lock)
Manufacturer recallA crack in the power steering motor can detach plastic parts from the worm gear and lock the steering. Stellantis recalled 9,524 vehicles worldwide, including 1,440 in France, produced between April and June 2024 (Peugeot 208 II, Opel Corsa and Mokka, Fiat 600 and DS 3 Crossback). The repair is covered by the manufacturer.
Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).
- Versions
- PureTech 100, PureTech 130 EAT8, PureTech 155 EAT8, BlueHDi 100, BlueHDi 130 EAT8, E-Tense 136 ch, E-Tense 156 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Recall: fuel leak on the high-pressure line (fire risk)
Manufacturer recallA recall (SR/02930/25) concerns DS 3 Crossbacks produced from 8 November 2022 to 17 April 2025: a missing nut on the high-pressure line between the pump and the rail can cause a fuel leak and a fire. The repair is free at DS dealers.
Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).
- Versions
- PureTech 100, PureTech 130 EAT8, PureTech 155 EAT8, BlueHDi 100, BlueHDi 130 EAT8
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “DS DS 3 Crossback”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Fuel or electricity | €123 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €56 |
| Maintenance | €33 |
| Depreciation | €165 |
| Total per month | €377 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
- Maintenance: budget of a closely related model.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Fuel (petrol)€123
PureTech 130 EAT8 version: combined consumption of 5 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.
5 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €123
Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.
- Insurance€56
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€33
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€165
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.
Inspection checklist
DS DS 3 Crossback I (became DS 3 in 2023) — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Demand the service invoices: oil changes at the correct interval with the recommended oil, and belt checks (PureTech).
- Check the oil level when cold and ask whether it needs topping up between oil changes.
- Ask a dealership of the brand, using the serial number, which recalls have been carried out and whether the car is eligible for warranty extensions.
- Diesel 1.5 BlueHDi: listen to the cold start-up; a rattle may indicate a loose chain.
- Check the DS network with the serial number for recalls (power steering for 2024 examples, fuel line for those produced from November 2022 to April 2025).
- E-Tense: test a full AC charge and a DC fast charge, and ask whether the on-board charger has been replaced.
Questions to ask the seller
- Do you have all the service invoices, with the oil references used?
- Has the timing belt (or the chain on the 1.5 diesel) been checked or replaced?
- Have the recalls (steering, fuel line, E-Tense) been carried out by the DS network?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: MoCars, CC0
Peugeot 2008
II · since 2019
- Price
- €9,500 – €22,000
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: MoCars, CC0
Peugeot 208
II · since 2019
- Price
- €8,900 – €18,000
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Citroën C3 Aircross
I · 2017–2024
- Price
- €8,980 – €14,895
- Reliability
- 2.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Renault Captur
II · since 2019
- Price
- €11,495 – €17,990
- Reliability
- 5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Hybrid
Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Opel Mokka
II · since 2020
- Price
- €14,500 – €22,000
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Electric
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the DS DS 3 Crossback I (became DS 3 in 2023) (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Euro NCAP rating of the DS 3 Crossback?
4 stars with standard equipment and 5 stars with the optional Safety pack, in the 2019 tests (Euro NCAP, Motor1).
Which engine should I choose for a used DS 3 Crossback?
Sources recommend favouring recent versions and checking the servicing, particularly the gearbox oil changes (La Revue Automobile). The 1.2 PureTech and the 1.5 BlueHDi have documented serious faults; on the E-Tense, test the AC charging.
What range does the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense have?
341 km in WLTP for the 136 hp with 50 kWh, and 402 km for the 156 hp with 54 kWh introduced in 2023 (L'argus, Meilleurelectrique.fr). Real-world range is lower.
Found a listing?
Soon, we will analyse your DS DS 3 Crossback listing: price, mileage, watch points.
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