2011 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 43,165 MOT tests, the 2011 Toyota Prius recorded an 84.6% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 7.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.7% of all tests — 10.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and registration plate lamp(s) — position lamp alone was recorded 3,316 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2011 Prius fails 12.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.7 points.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 3.5pp more often than electric ones (15.7% vs 12.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 21.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 6,756 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.6% | 2,407 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.0% | 2,163 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.8% | 2,075 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 1,729 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 544 |
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 | 3,316 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 2,386 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,305 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,769 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,205 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,089 |
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 | 21.2% | 9,151 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.4% | 8,806 |
| 3 | Suspension | 18.1% | 7,799 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 4,787 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.6% | 4,558 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.3% | 1,850 |
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 | 338 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,646 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 5,383 | 13.7% |
| 90-120k | 4,776 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 4,499 | 15.7% |
| 150k+ | 25,497 | 16.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 38,350 | 15.7% |
| Electric | 2,265 | 12.2% |
| Other | 1,747 | 12.7% |
| Petrol | 796 | 13.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,766 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 8,260 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 8,323 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 8,483 | 17.1% |
| 2025 | 8,333 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Prius
On a 2011 Prius, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.6% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2011 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 43,165 2011 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by suspension (5.6%).
Does the 2011 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,165 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.