2001 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
591 MOT tests on the 2001 Toyota Prius are in this dataset, and 75.8% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), the 2001 Prius comes out 3.7pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.0%) and lighting & signalling (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 54 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 60-90k one: 34.7% versus 17.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.0% | 71 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 63 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 54 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 38 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 30 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 54 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 37 |
| 3 | Wipers | 25 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 23 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 19 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.3% | 197 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.8% | 164 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.0% | 124 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 119 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 102 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.2% | 90 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 73 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 128 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 177 | 23.7% |
| 150k+ | 190 | 34.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 469 | 24.7% |
| Electric | 50 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 41 | 26.8% |
| Other | 31 | 25.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 165 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 143 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 120 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 87 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 76 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Prius
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 591 2001 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Toyota Prius?
Suspension, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 2001 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.8% in the 60-90k band to 34.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 591 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.