Common problems
DS DS4 windscreen and wiper problems
How often MOT testers find windscreen, wiper and mirror faults on the DS DS4 at each age, against all cars of the same age, and which items come up most. From 58,336 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025. These figures cover cars first used before 2021. Later cars sold under the same name are not included.
MOT data updated
At 10 years, the most tested age
What stands out
- At 10 years, 5.4 of every 100 MOTs of the DS DS4 found a windscreen, wiper and mirror fail (n=10,290), against 4.4 for all cars of that age (n=9,049,507).
- It is above the all-car rate at 8 of the 9 ages with at least 1,000 tests.
- The gap is widest at 6 years: 5.6 per 100 MOTs against 3.3 for all cars.
- The windscreen, wiper and mirror fail item recorded most often at 10 years: washers: provides insufficient washer liquid, on 2.1 per 100 MOTs.
- The most common windscreen, wiper and mirror advisory or minor defect: windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, on 1.8 per 100 MOTs.
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors fails by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | Tests (n) | Fails | All cars | Advisories | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 1,404 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 3.0 |
| 6 years | 3,791 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| 7 years | 5,714 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.3 |
| 8 years | 7,546 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
| 9 years | 10,250 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
| 10 years | 10,290 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 3.0 | 3.9 |
| 11 years | 9,362 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
| 12 years | 6,809 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 3.8 | 4.4 |
| 13 years | 3,170 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors fail items at 10 years
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | Typical repair (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | 2.1 | 1.5 | £2 to £14 per car (rough guide) |
| Wipers not clearing screen | 1.9 | 1.8 | £15 to £30 per blade |
| Washers: not working | 1.1 | 0.8 | £28 to £118 per car (rough guide) |
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors advisories and minor defects at 10 years
Advisories and minor defects are recorded, but the car still passes. Across all cars, a part with an advisory or minor defect failed at the next MOT 5.5 times in 100 (n=88,666,940 pairs of consecutive MOTs), against 0.3 times in 100 when the same part had none (n=12,936,860,350).
| Item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | 1.8 | 2.4 |
Repair estimates are a guide for an independent garage: labour at the national median local garage rate (median £78 an hour from 65 garages, ONS price quotes) times estimated labour hours, plus a parts band. Labour hours and most parts bands are estimates, not quotes, and prices vary by model, engine and region. A warning light fault shows the cost of the diagnosis only.
What to check on a viewing
On the DS DS4, the windscreen, wiper and mirror items testers fail most are washers: provides insufficient washer liquid; wipers not clearing screen; washers: not working.
- Look for chips or cracks in the windscreen, above all in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers: they should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check that the mirrors are present, secure and not cracked.
Ask for the car's MOT history: a windscreen, wiper and mirror advisory that repeats from year to year has not been fixed. GOV.UK MOT history.
Questions
What are the common windscreen and wiper problems on the DS DS4?
At 10 years (10,290 MOTs), the windscreen, wiper and mirror fail items testers record most often are washers: provides insufficient washer liquid (2.1 per 100 MOTs), wipers not clearing screen (1.9 per 100 MOTs), washers: not working (1.1 per 100 MOTs). The most common windscreen, wiper and mirror advisories or minor defects are windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (1.8).
Does the DS DS4 have more windscreen and wiper problems than other cars?
At 10 years it has 5.4 windscreen, wiper and mirror fails per 100 MOTs against 4.4 for all cars of the same age (1.0 more). It is above the all-car rate at 8 of the 9 ages with enough tests.
What does a windscreen, wiper and mirror repair cost on the DS DS4?
For washers: provides insufficient washer liquid, an independent garage estimate is £2 to £14 per car (rough guide). This is a guide built from the national median garage labour rate and estimated labour hours, not a quote.
More on the DS DS4
Windscreen and wiper problems on other DS models
The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.
Looking at a DS DS4?
These figures describe the model, not the car in front of you. Found one you might buy? See what the VetTheCar Buying Report covers, or use the tools that work without a registration.
See a sample report Car tools · MOT fail rates by model · Compare models by MOT record
Repair estimates: ONS consumer price quotes for local garage labour (09/2025 to 08/2026), the MOT inspection manual for defect wording, and estimated labour hours and parts bands. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ONS.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources