Used car guide

2003 Toyota Prius: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Toyota Priuss, from 113 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 113 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

113MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
6,800typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Toyota Priuss than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Headlights2.8× usual
    Toyota Prius
    33.6% All 2003 cars
    12.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.4%, against 4.4% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

By area

The share of 2003 Toyota Prius MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    53% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    47% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    32% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Rust and bodywork
    15% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    12% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023518Tyres 17%
20221,691Tyres 15%
20213,188Tyres 14%
202010,170Tyres 16%
201916,977Tyres 16%
201815,284Tyres 17%
201715,390Tyres 19%
201614,718Tyres 19%
201513,308Tyres 19%
201410,820Tyres 22%
20138,240Lights and electrics 25%
20127,894Lights and electrics 27%
20117,048Lights and electrics 33%
20109,326Suspension 35%
20096,614Lights and electrics 37%
20086,169Lights and electrics 42%
20076,102Suspension 43%
20063,199Suspension 45%
20052,109Suspension 48%
2004751Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Toyota Priuss registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score