Toyota Prius: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Toyota Prius passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 9.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 157,929 individual Toyota Prius tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 86% first-time pass rate means roughly 14 in every 100 Toyota Prius presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Toyota Prius tested had covered 132,186 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Toyota Prius sits 9.3 points above the national average, ranked 1,167 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Toyota Prius rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Toyota Prius: £1,000 at UK salvage auction, from 34 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Toyota Prius

1. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.8% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect)
2. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 1.3% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.4% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect)
4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.4% of tests
5. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.1% of tests
6. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.8% of tests
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.5% of tests
8. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.5% of tests
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 1.4% of tests
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.3% of tests

From 158,184 DVSA-tracked Toyota Prius tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.2% of these flagged Toyota Prius defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Toyota Prius

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Toyota Prius before it actually fails on it.

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.6% of tests (3.26x the national rate for this advisory)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.1% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.3% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.5% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 17.7% of tests, also fails
6. A tyre seriously damaged, 8.5% of tests, also fails
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 7.7% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.2% of tests, also fails
9. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 6.1% of tests, also fails
10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.8% of tests

From 158,184 DVSA-tracked Toyota Prius tests, 2024.

Toyota Prius pass rate by model year

From its 2004 to its 2023 model year, the Toyota Prius's first-time pass rate has risen 19.1 points, from 74.7% to 93.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Toyota Prius year:

• 2004 Toyota Prius - 74.7% first-time pass, 875 tests
• 2005 Toyota Prius - 75.4% first-time pass, 2,327 tests
• 2006 Toyota Prius - 72.9% first-time pass, 3,468 tests
• 2007 Toyota Prius - 74.1% first-time pass, 6,429 tests
• 2008 Toyota Prius - 74.8% first-time pass, 6,508 tests
• 2009 Toyota Prius - 76.4% first-time pass, 6,738 tests
• 2010 Toyota Prius - 78.7% first-time pass, 9,370 tests
• 2011 Toyota Prius - 79.7% first-time pass, 7,063 tests
• 2012 Toyota Prius - 82.1% first-time pass, 7,768 tests
• 2013 Toyota Prius - 84.4% first-time pass, 8,441 tests
• 2014 Toyota Prius - 89.1% first-time pass, 13,708 tests
• 2015 Toyota Prius - 89% first-time pass, 13,547 tests
• 2016 Toyota Prius - 90.5% first-time pass, 14,489 tests
• 2017 Toyota Prius - 92.2% first-time pass, 14,803 tests
• 2018 Toyota Prius - 93.5% first-time pass, 14,260 tests
• 2019 Toyota Prius - 93.5% first-time pass, 14,791 tests
• 2020 Toyota Prius - 92% first-time pass, 8,274 tests
• 2021 Toyota Prius - 93.7% first-time pass, 2,371 tests
• 2022 Toyota Prius - 94.9% first-time pass, 721 tests
• 2023 Toyota Prius - 93.8% first-time pass, 451 tests

Other Toyota models

• Toyota Yaris - 78.6%
• Toyota Aygo - 80.9%
• Toyota Auris - 80.5%
• Toyota Rav4 - 84.3%
• Toyota C-Hr - 90.6%
• Toyota Corolla - 75.3%
• Toyota Hilux - 73%
• Toyota Avensis - 73.7%

Models with a similar pass rate

• BMW 330e Xdrive M Sport Auto - 86.1%
• SEAT Arona Fr Ecotsi S-A - 86.1%
• Volkswagen Transporter T32 H-Ln Tdi 4m Sa - 86.1%
• Peugeot Expert Professional L1 Bluehdi - 86%
• Maserati Levante D V6 Auto - 86%
• Jaguar Eagle - 86%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• Toyota hybrid salvage buying guide
• Does high mileage mean a worse MOT pass rate? The workhorses say no
• Electric cars get fewer MOT advisories, except on tyres
• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

Embed this data

Run a site about the Toyota Prius? Embed the real DVSA pass-rate badge free, linked back to this page.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/toyota-prius"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/toyota-prius.svg" width="340" height="92" alt="Toyota Prius MOT Pass Rate: 86% - Salvage Prophet"></a>

Run a garage or parts site? Embed the Toyota Prius's top real failure reason instead, linked back here.

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/toyota-prius"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/toyota-prius.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Toyota Prius most common MOT failure: An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (0.8% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate