2004 · 20 years old at test · Mixed fuel mostly

2004 Toyota Prius MOT pass rate and common faults

860 MOT tests in 2024. 59.4% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time59.4%
Failed or needed repairs40.6%
Typical mileage at test155,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 860 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working8.8%
  2. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction4.9%
  3. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.5%
  4. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.4%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.0%
    38 marked dangerous
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.7%
  7. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.6%
  8. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.4%
  9. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.3%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics35.0%
  2. Suspension15.7%
  3. Brakes11.2%
  4. Body & chassis8.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.4%
  6. Emissions & leaks6.9%
  7. Tyres5.6%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.6%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.4%
  3. Headlamp: has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced14.2%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.1%
  5. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Toyota Prius?

In 2024, 59.4% of 2004 Toyota Prius cars passed their MOT first time, across 860 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Toyota Prius?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction; coil spring: fractured or broken. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Toyota Prius reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).