2007 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
41,249 MOT tests on the 2007 Toyota Prius are in this dataset, and 79.4% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.1% of the time, so this is 6.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 3,165 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.7% versus 13.2%.
The hybrid cars hold up better: 20.5% fail against 22.4% for petrol, a 1.8-point gap across 36,468 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 6,240 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 3,535 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 2,335 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.1% | 2,083 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.9% | 2,008 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 1,988 |
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 | 3,165 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,672 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,619 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 1,660 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,635 |
| 6 | Joints | 1,530 |
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 | 28.6% | 11,795 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.9% | 11,518 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 10,127 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 8,288 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.2% | 6,249 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 5,877 |
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 | 265 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,647 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 5,245 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,383 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 8,614 | 20.2% |
| 150k+ | 17,047 | 23.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 35,082 | 20.5% |
| Electric | 2,839 | 20.6% |
| Other | 1,928 | 21.4% |
| Petrol | 1,386 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,950 | 21.4% |
| 2022 | 8,509 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 8,381 | 20.5% |
| 2024 | 7,969 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 7,440 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Prius
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (5.7% 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 2007 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
79.4% of the 41,249 2007 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2007 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,249 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.