2018 Toyota Prius MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 87.7% of Toyota Prius cars first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 43,022 Prius first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).
This page analyses first MOT tests for Toyota Prius cars first used in 2018 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2018 Toyota Prius MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Prius cars first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Prius figure was 6.8 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2018 Prius | All cars first used 2018 | Prius first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88.1% | 87.6% | 10,845 |
| 2022 | 87.9% | 86.3% | 11,762 |
| 2023 | 87.4% | 84.2% | 13,471 |
| 2024 | 88.5% | 82.5% | 14,315 |
| 2025 | 87.7% | 80.9% | 15,236 |
Common 2018 Toyota Prius MOT failures
Share of the 5,234 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 16.9% | 883 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 13.6% | 710 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 7.5% | 393 |
| Rear fog lamp: not working | 7.1% | 370 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 6.7% | 351 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2018 Toyota Prius before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
Common 2018 Toyota Prius MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Prius cars, as a share of all 43,022 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 9.0% | 3,856 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 3.6% | 1,550 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 2.9% | 1,229 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 2.8% | 1,194 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 1.8% | 794 |
Questions about the 2018 Toyota Prius MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Toyota Prius?
In 2025, 87.7% of Prius cars first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2018 Prius most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 34.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (32.0%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (23.7%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (16.9%).
How often does a 2018 Toyota Prius fail its MOT?
In 2025, 12.3% of first tests on Prius cars first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 7.9% failed, and a further 4.4% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 5,234 of 43,022 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2018 Toyota Prius MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 9.0% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (3.6%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (2.9%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (2.8%) and “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (1.8%).
Is a 2018 Toyota Prius reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 88.1% in 2021 to 87.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2018
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2018 Prius?
The numbers above cover every Prius first used in 2018 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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