Toyota Prius Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Toyota Prius car check
Is the Toyota Prius reliable? We analysed 1,959,742 real MOT tests across 148,686 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Toyota Prius? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Toyota Prius is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Prius.
Toyota Prius Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Toyota Prius. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Toyota Prius MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Toyota Prius to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Toyota Prius Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Toyota Prius fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Toyota Prius Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Toyota Prius models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Toyota Prius Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Toyota Prius owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Toyota Prius MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Prius year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 229 | 96.5% | 22,500 | 26,800 | 40,304 |
| 2024 | 550 | 93.1% | 24,853 | 37,028 | 54,163 |
| 2023 | 1,507 | 92.6% | 32,020 | 49,537 | 74,128 |
| 2022 | 3,789 | 92.4% | 25,642 | 41,980 | 64,407 |
| 2021 | 9,669 | 91.3% | 28,080 | 46,308 | 73,130 |
| 2020 | 39,291 | 89.0% | 29,110 | 49,393 | 81,651 |
| 2019 | 88,159 | 89.1% | 35,691 | 64,110 | 107,868 |
| 2018 | 84,925 | 89.7% | 39,768 | 67,887 | 113,422 |
| 2017 | 99,128 | 89.4% | 43,333 | 74,795 | 124,539 |
| 2016 | 121,020 | 87.3% | 48,850 | 87,781 | 145,167 |
| 2015 | 126,060 | 83.3% | 59,462 | 102,594 | 162,261 |
| 2014 | 124,948 | 83.0% | 62,604 | 102,197 | 159,091 |
| 2013 | 115,164 | 82.0% | 65,635 | 107,818 | 168,227 |
| 2012 | 129,682 | 81.2% | 66,352 | 112,241 | 176,266 |
| 2011 | 136,022 | 78.8% | 70,149 | 118,101 | 183,181 |
| 2010 | 195,278 | 78.6% | 65,208 | 109,942 | 175,653 |
| 2009 | 142,059 | 78.7% | 57,621 | 98,016 | 160,197 |
| 2008 | 151,518 | 79.1% | 58,015 | 95,270 | 147,200 |
| 2007 | 156,980 | 78.3% | 56,385 | 92,290 | 138,168 |
| 2006 | 95,528 | 77.2% | 60,447 | 97,570 | 142,747 |
How Long Does a Toyota Prius Last?
Based on 148,686 Toyota Prius vehicles on UK roads.
Toyota Prius Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Prius MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Prius
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
96.5% MOT pass rate from 229 tests
71.4% MOT pass rate from 339 tests
The best year to buy a used Toyota Prius is 2025, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.5% across 229 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Toyota Prius Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius THIS CAR | 81.8% | 1,959,742 | 94,619 mi | 22 yrs |
| Toyota Yaris | 77.7% | 9,038,234 | 54,896 mi | 27 yrs |
| Toyota Corolla | 75.4% | 4,239,724 | 75,409 mi | 36 yrs |
| Toyota Avensis | 75% | 3,497,866 | 89,776 mi | 28 yrs |
| Volvo S40 | 69.9% | 1,390,271 | 84,701 mi | 30 yrs |
Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Prius outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Toyota Prius you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Toyota PriusShould you buy a used Toyota Prius?
The Toyota Prius has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.8% across 1,959,742 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Toyota Prius are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (14,116 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (9,474), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (9,244). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Toyota Prius with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Toyota Prius owner drives around 12,199 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Toyota Prius models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.