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Toyota Prius Plus reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 21,853 MOT tests of cars first registered 2012–2019.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
82.1%pass first time
+10.6 ptsvs typical car
Beats 96%of cars
21,853MOT tests

Verdict

The Toyota Prius Plus passes its MOT first time on 82.1% of tests, 10.6 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (71.5%). That puts it ahead of 96% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2019 Prius Plus does best (beats 99% of cars) and the 2013 worst (beats 92%).

Better than average on tyres, visibility, suspension.

Watch these weak spots

Number plate lights2.3×as often as a typical car
Rear fog light3.3×as often as a typical car
Ball joint dust covers1.7×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

60%70%80%90%345678910111287%84%83%82%79%
Toyota Prius PlusTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2012
Beats 93%
2013
Beats 92%
2014
Beats 97%
2015
Beats 97%
2016
Beats 97%
2017
Beats 98%
2018
Beats 93%
2019
Beats 99%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid2012–201921,85382.1%Beats 96%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 0.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 2.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 10.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 2.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 10.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.0 ptsTyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+3.3 ptsBrakes: 2.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+4.3 ptsSuspension: 2.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.9 ptsExhaust: 0.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+2.7 ptsSuspension: 2.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 2.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 10.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 0.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 10.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+1.0 ptsTyres: 3.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+3.3 ptsBrakes: 2.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+4.3 ptsSuspension: 2.9% of tests fail on suspension, against 7.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+4.9 ptsExhaust: 0.4% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 3.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+2.7 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 10.8% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 11.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
10.8% vs 11.8%
Tyres
3.6% vs 6.8%
Visibility
3.2% vs 4.5%
Suspension
2.9% vs 7.8%
Brakes
2.1% vs 6.4%
Emissions & leaks
0.4% vs 3.2%
Wheels
0.4% vs 0.5%
Body & structure
0.3% vs 2.5%
Steering
0.3% vs 1.7%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.8%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Number plate lights 2.3× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Brake pads
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Headlight bulbs & units
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

65%70%75%80%85%90%40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k86%87%84%82%82%83%82%82%
Toyota Prius PlusTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Number plate lights4.8%2.1%2.3×
Sidelights3.1%2.6%1.2×
Windscreen wipers2.1%1.9%1.1×
Tyre tread depth2.1%3.0%0.7×
Rear fog light2.0%0.6%3.3×
Brake pads1.5%2.6%0.6×
Ball joint dust covers1.4%0.8%1.7×
Tyre damage & cracking1.2%3.4%0.3×
Headlight bulbs & units1.1%2.2%0.5×
Headlight aim1.0%3.2%0.3×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps33.8
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning25.7
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements20.9
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen20.8
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc14.6
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm14.0
Rear registration plate lamp does not illuminate simultaneously with the position lamps13.6
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 functioning13.1
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2019 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine88.2% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid3,32988.2%Beats 99%A
2018 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine84.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid1,71484.0%Beats 93%A
2017 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine85.6% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid1,63885.6%Beats 98%A
2016 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine83.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid2,97383.1%Beats 97%A
2015 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine82.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid2,62482.4%Beats 97%A
2014 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine81.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid3,38281.3%Beats 97%A
2013 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine77.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid3,79777.5%Beats 92%A
2012 Toyota Prius Plus1 engine76.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.8 Hybrid2,39676.5%Beats 93%A

FAQ

What is the Toyota Prius Plus MOT pass rate?

82.1% of MOT tests on the Toyota Prius Plus were passed first time, based on 21,853 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2012–2019. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 71.5% of the time.

Is the Toyota Prius Plus reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 96% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Toyota Prius Plus year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2019 Prius Plus does best for its age and mileage: it beats 99% of cars on UK roads. The 2013 does worst: it beats 92%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Toyota Prius Plus?

The most common failure items are number plate lights, sidelights, windscreen wipers. Compared with similar cars, number plate lights comes up 2.3× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.