Toyota Prius
Registered from 2000 to 2025.
About this model
The Toyota Prius is a car produced by Toyota since 1997 over five generations. The Prius has a hybrid drivetrain, called Hybrid Synergy Drive, which combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Initially offered as a subcompact four-door saloon, it has been produced only as a compact five-door liftback since 2003.
From the Wikipedia article Toyota Prius, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2019 1.8 hybrid. 1,115 of 17,241 tests failed, 6%.
Better than 78% of 2019 cars. The typical one fails 9%, across 908 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 47% | 521 |
| Lights and electrics | 36% | 405 |
| Brakes | 19% | 214 |
| Suspension | 19% | 209 |
| Visibility | 15% | 168 |
| Body and structure | 2% | 25 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
Where it stands out against its peers
- Lights and electrics: failed more often than 93% of 2019 cars — 36% of its 1,115 failed tests, where an ordinary 2019 car has 13%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 47% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Brakes — 19% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Suspension — 19% of its failures
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Lights and electrics — 36% of its failures
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
- Visibility — 15% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 8% of its inspections, against the 16% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 5% | 5% | 1,523 | |
| 20–40k miles | 6% | 9% | 2,760 | |
| 40–60k miles | 6% | 12% | 2,231 | |
| 60–80k miles | 6% | 14% | 2,040 | |
| 80–100k miles | 6% | 14% | 2,121 | |
| 100–120k miles | 6% | 16% | 1,969 | |
| 120–140k miles | 8% | 17% | 1,657 | |
| 140–160k miles | 8% | 16% | 1,248 | |
| 160–180k miles | 7% | — | 790 | |
| 180–200k miles | 9% | — | 455 | |
| 200k+ miles | 11% | — | 434 |
17,228 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.8 hybrid · 97 hp · 1605 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 1.3 L/100km (WLTP) · 100 Wh/km |
| 2021 | 1.8 hybrid · 97 hp · 1605 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 1.2 L/100km (WLTP) · 99 Wh/km |
| 2020 | 1.8 hybrid · 97 hp · 1605 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 1.2 L/100km (WLTP) · 100 Wh/km |
| 2019 | 1.8 hybrid · 97 hp · 1605 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 1.3 L/100km (WLTP) · 100 Wh/km |
| 2017 | 1.8 hybrid · 79 hp · 1605 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 0.9 L/100km (NEDC) · 72 Wh/km |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/01225/24
Insufficient waterproofing of the door opener switch may allow water to infiltrate and cause a short circuit. This could result in the door opening unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion or during an accident if it is not locked, increasing the risk of injury to occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01394/21
Due to incorrect programming, the electronic control unit (ECU) of the hybrid vehicle may incorrectly determine the position of the transmission selector lever which could cause the hybrid system to shut down.This could result in a loss of power, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0208/18
There could be a fault with the pressure sensors for the airbag system. This could lead to the non-deployment of the side/curtain shield airbags and/or front airbags, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants in the event of a crash.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02415/23
Due to a specific software update error that can cause an abrupt reset, the data communication module (DCM) may not restart at the next ignition cycle. It will no longer be possible to initiate an emergency call using the eCall system, increasing the risk of injuries, delayed assistance in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0304/14
In limited instances, as a consequence of a problem with the inverter assembly, the motor/generator ECU could reset, causing the hybrid system to shut down and resulting in the vehicle stopping while being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0950/15
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) could reset, causing the hybrid system to shut down and resulting in the vehicle stopping while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1175/16
The subject vehicles are equipped with a “hybrid” type front passenger air bag inflator which contains compressed gas and propellant in the same combustion chamber. The burst disk in some inflators may have been improperly welded and/or misassembled. If this occurs, the disk membrane could burst only from the stored pressure of compressed gas in the inflator, allowing the gas to escape without a deployment command. This could result in the partial inflation of the front passenger air bag.An airbag that inflates in this manner can, under some circumstances, increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a crash.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1327/18
The engine wire harness has a cover attached where it is connected to the hybrid vehicle Power Control Unit. Due to assembly variation, a portion of the wire harness could contact the cover. If dust has accumulated on the wire harness or the cover, vibration during vehicle use may cause the insulation on the wires to wear over time and expose the core wire, causing an electrical short circuit to occur between the damaged wires and generate heat. If sufficient heat is generated, there is an increased risk of fire.
Recall of the product from end users
5 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.