Family hatchback · 1999–2021 cars

Toyota Prius reliability

The Toyota Prius fails 20.9% of first MOT tests, 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 523,189 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 78/100#5 of 65 family hatchbacks

Checking a Toyota Prius before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 20.9%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 31% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 523,189; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 15,300; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Toyota Prius ranks 5 of 65 family hatchback models for reliability. Its first-time MOT fail rate is 20.9%, against 28.4% for all cars. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage, it has 31% fewer MOT fails. Its weakest year, 2004, still has 13% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, while 2021 is best with 54% fewer.

A good record doesn't mean you can skip the checks. The most common MOT failures are simple faults you can check yourself: a position lamp not working (3.06% of tests), a registration plate lamp not working (2.15%), a wiper blade not clearing the windscreen (1.92%) and tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.65%). Before you buy, switch on every light, run the wipers and check the tyre tread depth. Ask for the MOT history too.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Toyota Prius ages

Each point is the share of Toyota Priuss of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Toyota PriusAll cars

Toyota Prius first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Toyota Prius	All cars
3	12.6%	12.3%
4	13%	14.1%
5	10.7%	16.4%
6	13.8%	19.1%
7	15.2%	22.1%
8	19.3%	25.5%
9	21.3%	28.8%
10	22.1%	31.8%
11	26.7%	34.6%
12	30%	37.3%
13	31.8%	39.5%
14	33.1%	41.1%
15	34.7%	42.3%
16	37.1%	42.9%
17	37.2%	43.4%
18	37.9%	43.5%
19	38.6%	43.4%
20	37.1%	42.8%
21	37.3%	41.4%

By year

The best and worst Toyota Prius years

2021 cars come out best and 2004 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Toyota Prius MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Prius	3,302	6.9%	54% fewer fails	38,029
2020 Prius	18,899	11.7%	28% fewer fails	44,933
2019 Prius	51,952	13.1%	32% fewer fails	73,280
2018 Prius	52,712	11.3%	43% fewer fails	67,727
2017 Prius	51,564	12%	45% fewer fails	76,415
2016 Prius	51,009	14.7%	41% fewer fails	104,765
2015 Prius	43,837	19.4%	32% fewer fails	130,165
2014 Prius	41,037	20.1%	36% fewer fails	131,036
2013 Prius	32,178	21.6%	36% fewer fails	144,982
2012 Prius	27,371	24.2%	33% fewer fails	156,773
2011 Prius	23,876	29.7%	23% fewer fails	168,235
2010 Prius	32,223	31.4%	23% fewer fails	163,259
2009 Prius	23,266	32.9%	21% fewer fails	143,028
2008 Prius	22,768	34.3%	21% fewer fails	138,810
2007 Prius	22,449	35.5%	20% fewer fails	137,473
2006 Prius	12,122	38.2%	15% fewer fails	146,092
2005 Prius	8,462	36.9%	19% fewer fails	146,592
2004 Prius	3,145	39.8%	13% fewer fails	149,340
2003	506	36.2%	20% fewer fails	135,309
2001	293	40.6%	6% fewer fails	126,922

Common problems

What fails most on a Toyota Prius

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics11.1%14% below avg
Tyres4.5%33% below avg
Suspension4.3%56% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3.7%22% below avg
Brakes3.4%54% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.4%60% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.3%66% below avg
Wheels0.5%1% below avg
Steering0.5%76% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 3.06% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Registration plate lamp not working 2.15% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.92% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.65% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Dipped beam headlamp not working 1.09% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
6
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.08% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
7
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 1.04% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
8
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 0.98% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota Prius's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit8.53%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.6%
Brake pads wearing thin4.04%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.72%
Brake pipes corroded and greasy2.76%
Number plate lettering deteriorating2.25%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Toyota Prius

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Registration plate lamp not working
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Toyota Prius covers about 15,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Hybrid54.1%
Other45.9%
Petrol0%

Most common colours

Silver, White, Black, Grey, Blue

Average engine size: 1.8 litres.

Compare

How the Toyota Prius compares with its rivals

Toyota Prius against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Toyota Prius	20.9%	31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Skoda Octavia	24.7%	16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Leon	23.2%	14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota Auris	26.2%	11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 308	35.2%	18% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Megane	45.1%	30% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C4	39.4%	30% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every family hatchback ranked in the family hatchback reliability index, or all Toyota models.

Questions

Toyota Prius questions, answered

Is the Toyota Prius reliable?

On MOT results, the Toyota Prius is better than average: it fails 20.9% of first MOT tests, 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 5 of 65 family hatchback models in our index.

What fails most on a Toyota Prius MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Prius are position lamp not working (3.06% of tests), registration plate lamp not working (2.15% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.92% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 11.1% of its tests.

Which Toyota Prius year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2021 cars do best (54% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2004 cars do worst (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Toyota Prius do a year?

A typical Toyota Prius covers about 15,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Toyota Prius before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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