Used car guide

2019 Toyota Prius: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2019 Toyota Priuss, from 16,858 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

16,858MOT tests in 2025
88%pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%)
13,900typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for number plate lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2019 Toyota Priuss than on all cars registered in 2019.

  • Number plate lights2.5× usual
    Toyota Prius
    3.5% All 2019 cars
    1.4%
    Rough price £5–£40

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 5.3% here, against 13.9% of all 2019 cars. Brake pads: 4.5% here, against 11.1% of all 2019 cars.

By area

The share of 2019 Toyota Prius MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    16% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% 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
    8% 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.

  • Suspension
    6% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
202010,124Tyres 16%
201815,181Tyres 17%
201715,245Tyres 19%
201614,615Tyres 19%
201513,101Tyres 19%
201410,662Tyres 22%
20138,137Lights and electrics 25%
20127,821Lights and electrics 27%
20117,031Lights and electrics 33%
20109,326Suspension 35%
20096,614Lights and electrics 37%
20086,168Lights and electrics 42%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2019 Toyota Priuss registered in 2019. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score