2006 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,567 MOT tests, the 2006 Toyota Prius recorded a 78.1% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.5% of the time, so this is 5.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 7.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 1,826 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.7% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, electric examples fail 1.6pp more often than other ones (21.9% vs 20.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 3,779 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.4% | 2,120 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 1,418 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.7% | 1,281 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,107 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,106 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,826 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 1,683 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,622 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,049 |
| 5 | Joints | 967 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 938 |
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 | 30.0% | 6,775 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.5% | 6,651 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.0% | 5,642 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 4,870 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.0% | 3,602 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 3,483 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 77 | 14.3% |
| 30-60k | 696 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,399 | 17.8% |
| 90-120k | 4,018 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 4,850 | 22.4% |
| 150k+ | 10,496 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 19,140 | 21.9% |
| Electric | 1,681 | 21.9% |
| Other | 966 | 20.4% |
| Petrol | 770 | 21.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,935 | 21.5% |
| 2022 | 4,773 | 21.9% |
| 2023 | 4,604 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 4,325 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 3,930 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Prius
On a 2006 Prius, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2006 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 22,567 2006 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (9.4%).
Does the 2006 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,567 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.