2021 Toyota Prius MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 92.1% of Toyota Prius cars first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. Across 6,689 Prius first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, lamps and electrical equipment and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).
This page analyses first MOT tests for Toyota Prius cars first used in 2021 (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 2021 Toyota Prius MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Prius cars first used in 2021 against all cars first used in 2021 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Prius figure was 4.9 points higher.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2021 Prius | All cars first used 2021 | Prius first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.8% | 82.9% | 643 |
| 2022 | 86.4% | 89.9% | 937 |
| 2023 | 87.1% | 90.8% | 1,141 |
| 2024 | 90.5% | 87.6% | 2,374 |
| 2025 | 92.1% | 87.2% | 3,174 |
Common 2021 Toyota Prius MOT failures
Share of the 624 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 | 15.1% | 94 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 14.4% | 90 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 8.3% | 52 |
| Rear fog lamp: not working | 8.2% | 51 |
| Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed | 8.2% | 51 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2021 Toyota Prius before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- 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 2021 Toyota Prius MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2021 Prius cars, as a share of all 6,689 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 8.7% | 582 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 2.3% | 152 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 2.0% | 133 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 1.9% | 127 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 1.6% | 110 |
Questions about the 2021 Toyota Prius MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2021 Toyota Prius?
In 2025, 92.1% of Prius cars first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2021 Prius most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres (in 37.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (37.0%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (22.3%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (15.1%).
How often does a 2021 Toyota Prius fail its MOT?
In 2025, 7.9% of first tests on Prius cars first used in 2021 did not pass first time: 5.4% failed, and a further 2.5% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 624 of 6,689 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Prius MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 8.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (2.3%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (2.0%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (1.9%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (1.6%).
Is a 2021 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 90.8% in 2021 to 92.1% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2021
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2021 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT statistics · 2021 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT statistics · 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2021 Prius?
The numbers above cover every Prius first used in 2021 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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