2008 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
41,049 MOT tests on the 2008 Toyota Prius are in this dataset, and 80.8% of them passed. That is 7.1 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 14.6% of all tests — 8.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,943 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.9% versus 15.8%.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 3.1pp more often than other ones (19.5% vs 16.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 27.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 6,002 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.3% | 2,606 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 2,455 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.9% | 2,027 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 1,955 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.7% | 1,937 |
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 | 2,943 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 2,582 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,512 |
| 4 | Joints | 1,855 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,564 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,494 |
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 | 27.9% | 11,438 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.4% | 10,424 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.1% | 10,299 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 8,099 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.8% | 6,495 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.1% | 6,204 |
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 | 203 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,822 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,405 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 8,085 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 7,491 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 17,998 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 35,122 | 19.5% |
| Electric | 2,873 | 18.8% |
| Other | 1,766 | 16.4% |
| Petrol | 1,278 | 18.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,677 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 8,570 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 8,306 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 8,029 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 7,467 | 19.9% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Prius
On a 2008 Prius, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.3% 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 (6.0% 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 2008 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
80.8% of the 41,049 2008 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by suspension (6.3%).
Does the 2008 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,049 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.