Discoloured / Missing Render below PebbleDash

[DIYKitkat]

Hi, the house was Pebbledashed about eight years ago. From the beginning there were areas of the render below the PebbleDash / around front door which were darker in colour than the rest. On the side of the house, below the damp proof course you can actually see the outline of the bricks underneath. On the front of the house the render does not go all the way to the ground in a couple of places.

Are these just cosmetic things I have to live with? Or are these signs of bigger problems?

Thanks in advance!