2012 Toyota Prius Plus: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Toyota Prius Pluss, from 303 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: only 303 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What gets flagged at MOT
The share of 2012 Toyota Prius Plus MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Lights and electrics24% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Suspension23% 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.
- Tyres22% 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.
- Brakes17% 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.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors8% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Oil and fluid leaks2% of testsRough price £80–£600
At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.
Known faults
Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.
- Oil use and head gasket (1.8 petrol)1.8 hybrid
Some owners treat the Prius like an electric car and forget the oil and coolant. Low oil can wreck the engine, and a failing head gasket can go unnoticed.
At the viewing: Check the oil on the dipstick and the coolant level, and look for regular servicing.
- Hybrid battery ageAll
A new hybrid battery from Toyota is expensive. Reconditioned packs from established UK firms are cheaper.
At the viewing: Ask whether the hybrid battery has been replaced and by whom.
- Air-con compressorAll
The air-con compressor has its own electric motor that can wear out, and it's costly to replace. A seller saying it 'just needs a regas' is a warning sign.
At the viewing: Run the air con and check it blows properly cold.
- Rusty brake discsAll
Because the hybrid system does much of the braking, discs often rust rather than wear, and fail the MOT that way.
At the viewing: Look at the discs through the wheels for heavy rust or a ridged surface.
Looking at a Toyota Prius Plus?
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 139 | Tyres 14% |
| 2019 | 737 | Tyres 13% |
| 2018 | 371 | Tyres 12% |
| 2017 | 385 | Tyres 15% |
| 2016 | 588 | Tyres 16% |
| 2015 | 461 | Tyres 16% |
| 2014 | 493 | Lights and electrics 18% |
| 2013 | 386 | Lights and electrics 27% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Toyota Prius Pluss registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score