MPV and people carrier · 2011–2021 cars
Toyota Prius+ reliability
The Toyota Prius+ fails 16.1% of first MOT tests, 41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 13,953 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Toyota Prius+ before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 16.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 41% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 13,953
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 15,900
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Toyota Prius+ ages
Each point is the share of Toyota Prius+s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Toyota Prius+ | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 12.3% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 14.4% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 14% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 14.7% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 18% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 19.2% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 19.2% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 16.6% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 26.2% | 37.3% |
By year
The best and worst Toyota Prius+ years
2019 cars come out best and 2018 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 273 | 11.4% | 29% fewer fails | 47,648 |
| 2019 Prius+ | 2,031 | 10.8% | 46% fewer fails | 81,355 |
| 2018 Prius+ | 1,225 | 16.9% | 21% fewer fails | 95,489 |
| 2017 Prius+ | 1,250 | 12.3% | 45% fewer fails | 82,423 |
| 2016 Prius+ | 2,126 | 15.7% | 41% fewer fails | 135,219 |
| 2015 Prius+ | 1,706 | 16.9% | 42% fewer fails | 151,427 |
| 2014 Prius+ | 2,024 | 18.2% | 41% fewer fails | 127,289 |
| 2013 Prius+ | 1,973 | 18.8% | 43% fewer fails | 126,093 |
| 2012 Prius+ | 1,116 | 21.5% | 36% fewer fails | 84,077 |
| 2011 | 200 | 13% | 61% fewer fails | 68,506 |
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 electrics9.1%16% below avg
- Tyres3.3%49% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3%29% below avg
- Suspension2.8%63% below avg
- Brakes1.6%74% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.4%88% below avg
- Wheels0.3%42% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.2%90% below avg
- Steering0.2%86% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Registration plate lamp not working 2.7% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 2
Position lamp not working 2.04% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.56% 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 1.41% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 5
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 0.98% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 6
Plate lamp not lit with position lamps 0.95% of tests
The plate lamp must light with the position lamps, so this fault is illegal and should be corrected.
- 7
Rear fog lamp not working 0.77% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 8
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 0.72% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
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 limit5.8%
- Brake pads wearing thin2.56%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking1.54%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit1.36%
- Brake disc pitted or scored1.32%
- Shock absorber light oil misting1.03%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Toyota Prius+
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 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 15,900 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
- Hybrid52%
- Other48%
Most common colours
Black, White, Silver, Grey, Blue
Average engine size: 1.8 litres.
Compare
How the Toyota Prius+ compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius+ | 16.1% | 41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Previa | 44% | about average for its age |
| Renault Megane Scenic | 41.4% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Ford Tourneo Custom | 19.3% | 14% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Orlando | 40.6% | 18% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Grand C4 Picasso | 50.5% | 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot Rifter | 18.9% | 56% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier 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 16.1% of first MOT tests, 41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 3 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.
What fails most on a Toyota Prius+ MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Toyota Prius+ are registration plate lamp not working (2.7% of tests), position lamp not working (2.04% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (1.56% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 9.1% of its tests.
Which Toyota Prius+ year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2019 cars do best (46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2018 cars do worst (21% 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 15,900 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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