2002 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Toyota Prius passed 80.0% of its 325 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 8.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.5%) and suspension (11.4%) 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 and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.5% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 25.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 44 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.4% | 37 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 18 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 17 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 11 |
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 | 24 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 4 | Wipers | 16 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 14 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 36.0% | 117 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.9% | 110 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.2% | 95 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 27.7% | 90 |
| 5 | Other defects | 23.1% | 75 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.9% | 68 |
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 | 54 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 76 | 21.1% |
| 150k+ | 97 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | 22.6% |
| 2022 | 76 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 63 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 48 | 14.6% |
| 2025 | 45 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Prius
On a 2002 Prius, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.4% 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.
- Brakes (5.5% 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 2002 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 325 2002 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by suspension (11.4%).
Does the 2002 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 60-90k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 325 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.