2013 Toyota Prius — MOT failures & pass rate
52,135 MOT tests on the 2013 Toyota Prius are in this dataset, and 88.9% of them passed. That is 8.3 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.9% of all tests — 7.7 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are registration plate lamp(s), position lamp and tread depth — registration plate lamp(s) alone was recorded 2,705 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 Prius fails 8.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 6,222 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.2% | 2,187 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.1% | 2,129 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,832 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.1% | 1,634 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 370 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,705 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,168 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,517 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 1,371 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,179 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,098 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.4% | 8,561 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 6,967 |
| 3 | Suspension | 10.4% | 5,446 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 3,499 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.7% | 2,946 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 1,258 |
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 | 688 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,107 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 7,757 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 6,655 | 11.5% |
| 120-150k | 6,857 | 10.8% |
| 150k+ | 25,035 | 11.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 51,169 | 11.2% |
| Electric | 424 | 9.2% |
| Other | 421 | 7.8% |
| Petrol | 116 | 10.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,187 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 10,678 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 10,976 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 10,352 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 9,942 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Prius
On a 2013 Prius, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.2% 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 (4.1% 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 2013 Toyota Priuss pass their MOT?
88.9% of the 52,135 2013 Toyota Prius MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Toyota Prius?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, followed by suspension (4.2%).
Does the 2013 Prius get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 11.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,135 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.