Common problems by part
Toyota Prius body and structure problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 61,042 MOT tests · Updated
At 6 years, 0.2 in 100 MOT tests of the Toyota Prius failed on body and structure, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 61,042 MOT tests) [1].
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- Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years), 145 MOT tests with a fail
- By age: seen at 19 ages from 3 to 21 years, 614,268 MOT tests
- MOT tests at 6 years: 61,042 for the Toyota Prius
Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.
What the MOT tests show
What we know
0.2 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). The Toyota Prius fails less often here.
Why it matters
A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.
What to check
Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.
Toyota Prius body and structure fails by age
| Age | MOT tests | Fails per 100 | All class 4 vehicles the same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 28,060 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 4 | 39,706 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 5 | 51,570 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| 6 | 61,042 | 0.2 | 0.8 |
| 7 | 57,819 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| 8 | 54,363 | 0.4 | 1.8 |
| 9 | 49,088 | 0.4 | 2.3 |
| 10 | 46,033 | 0.5 | 2.9 |
| 11 | 34,291 | 0.8 | 3.5 |
| 12 | 32,777 | 1.0 | 4.3 |
| 13 | 31,757 | 1.6 | 5.0 |
| 14 | 30,592 | 2.8 | 5.9 |
| 15 | 30,003 | 4.2 | 6.7 |
| 16 | 23,892 | 6.4 | 7.6 |
| 17 | 19,103 | 7.6 | 8.3 |
| 18 | 13,208 | 7.3 | 8.7 |
| 19* | 6,691 | 7.3 | 9.0 |
| 20* | 3,217 | 6.2 | 9.2 |
| 21* | 1,056 | 6.8 | 9.3 |
All first-use years of the Toyota Prius pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.
What fails in the body and structure at 6 years
Advisories (not fails)
- Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated: 0.2 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.3. Drive shaft constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (MOT minor defect)
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- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
By engine and fuel
- 1.8 hybrid: 0.2 per 100 at 6 years, about average for hybrid class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 60,428 MOT tests)
- 1.5 hybrid: 7.5 per 100 at 16 years, fails 1.6–1.7× as often as hybrid class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 18,862 MOT tests)
How to check on a test drive
Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.
The most common advisory here in MOT records: Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated.
Check one Toyota Prius, not the average
The figures here describe Toyota Prius cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.
- Check a Toyota Prius's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.
Other Toyota Prius problems
Body and structure on rival models
- Ford Focus body and structure problems: 0.3 per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.2 for the Toyota Prius (233,113 MOT tests)
- Vauxhall Astra body and structure problems: 0.8 per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.2 for the Toyota Prius (156,300 MOT tests)
- BMW 1 Series body and structure problems: 0.2 per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.2 for the Toyota Prius (122,018 MOT tests)
Questions people ask
Does the Toyota Prius have more body and structure problems than other cars?
0.2 to 0.3 times the body and structure fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 6 years (all test years), from 61,042 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 10 of the 19 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).
How common are Toyota Prius body and structure problems?
0.2 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on body and structure, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 61,042 MOT tests).
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 614,268 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare