2009 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Toyota Prius passed 81.1% of its 41,601 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 25.5% of the time, so this is 6.6pp 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 15.3% of tests against 6.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 3,145 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — electric fails 17.7% of the time against 19.0% for hybrid.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 6,378 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 2,713 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 2,518 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 2,094 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 1,860 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 1,081 |
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 | 3,145 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,529 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,096 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,684 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,229 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,021 |
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% | 11,625 |
| 2 | Suspension | 23.3% | 9,711 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.0% | 9,579 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.7% | 6,128 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.7% | 5,274 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 3,664 |
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 | 389 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 2,594 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 6,075 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 7,090 | 19.0% |
| 120-150k | 5,957 | 20.1% |
| 150k+ | 19,419 | 20.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 36,265 | 19.0% |
| Electric | 2,438 | 17.7% |
| Other | 1,864 | 18.0% |
| Petrol | 1,027 | 18.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,400 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 8,530 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 8,438 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 8,221 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 8,012 | 19.8% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Prius
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.5% 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 (6.0% 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 2009 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
81.1% of the 41,601 2009 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by suspension (6.5%).
Does the 2009 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,601 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.