2010 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
56,569 MOT tests on the 2010 Toyota Prius are in this dataset, and 82.8% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2010 Prius comes out 7.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 5.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and registration plate lamp(s) — position lamp alone was recorded 4,563 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.7% versus 13.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 15.9% of the time against 17.3% for hybrid.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 9,269 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 3,274 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.8% | 3,271 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 2,865 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 2,490 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 823 |
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 | 4,563 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 3,529 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,000 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,702 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,536 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,490 |
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 | 26.6% | 15,040 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.6% | 12,803 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.3% | 12,609 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 7,667 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.6% | 6,560 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 3,311 |
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 | 466 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,039 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 7,171 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 7,941 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 6,908 | 18.9% |
| 150k+ | 30,968 | 17.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 49,993 | 17.3% |
| Electric | 3,108 | 16.8% |
| Other | 2,226 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 1,230 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,528 | 16.0% |
| 2022 | 11,345 | 16.6% |
| 2023 | 11,425 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 11,231 | 17.8% |
| 2025 | 11,040 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Prius
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% 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 (5.8% 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 2010 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 56,569 2010 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2010 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 56,569 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.