2003 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 921 MOT tests, the 2003 Toyota Prius recorded a 77.6% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.1% of the time, so this is 5.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests against 10.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, position lamp and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp alone was recorded 67 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 Prius fails 23.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 23.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.6% in 2021 to 21.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 145 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.9% | 100 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 68 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 52 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 43 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 40 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 67 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 51 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 46 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 43 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 37 |
| 6 | Wipers | 31 |
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 | 34.4% | 317 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.7% | 301 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 27.4% | 252 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.8% | 210 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 189 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.9% | 156 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 34 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 92 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 192 | 17.2% |
| 120-150k | 240 | 24.6% |
| 150k+ | 351 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 764 | 22.1% |
| Electric | 76 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 45 | 22.2% |
| Other | 34 | 29.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 220 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 203 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 195 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 165 | 20.6% |
| 2025 | 138 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Prius
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.9% 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 (7.4% 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 2003 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 921 2003 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (10.9%).
Does the 2003 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.5% in the 30-60k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 921 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.