What are the most common problems with a 2017 Toyota Prius?

Known faults on the 2017 Toyota Prius include fire-risk and parking brake recalls. The biggest MOT weak spot is link ball joint covers: flagged on 2% of tests, 6.7× the rate for all 2017 cars.

What should I ask the seller before buying a used 2017 Toyota Prius?

Have all the recalls been done, including the 2018 fire-risk one? Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 6.7× as often on the 2017 Toyota Prius as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Part of the Toyota Prius Mk4 (2016–2022) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2017 Toyota Prius: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Toyota Prius first registered in 2017: we looked at the 45,148 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

45,148MOTs of 2017 cars, done in 2023–2025

87%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)

13,200typical miles a year

6.7×the usual rate for link ball joint covers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Toyota Prius?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Toyota Prius than on all cars registered in 2017.

Link ball joint covers6.7× usual

Toyota Prius
2% All 2017 cars
0.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 5.6% here, against 13.5% of all 2017 cars. Brake discs: 4.7% here, against 10.9% of all 2017 cars.

Common 2017 Toyota Prius MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Toyota Prius MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Tyres

17% 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.
Brakes

9% 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

7% 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

6% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

5% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

1% of testsRough price £100–£450

At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Feel for play or knocking when turning.

Known faults on the 2017 Toyota Prius

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.

Fire-risk and parking brake recalls
All versions
About 32,000 UK cars were recalled in 2018 for a possible fire risk, and others for the parking brake (2016), passenger airbags and an ECU check (2020).

At the viewing: Ask a Toyota dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

Source: Auto Express: used Toyota Prius (Mk4, 2015-2022) review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Toyota Prius

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

Have all the recalls been done, including the 2018 fire-risk one?
Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 6.7× as often on the 2017 Toyota Prius as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Prius?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Toyota Prius compared

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2026	–	Too new for MOT data
2025	–	Too new for MOT data
2024	–	Too new for MOT data
2023	1,239	Tyres 17%
2022	2,835	Tyres 16%
2021	6,612	Tyres 15%
2020	26,318	Tyres 18%
2019	47,801	Tyres 16%
2018	42,729	Tyres 16%
2016	44,002	Tyres 18%
2015	40,082	Tyres 17%
2014	35,920	Tyres 20%
2013	26,198	Lights and electrics 22%
2012	23,313	Lights and electrics 24%
2011	21,054	Lights and electrics 30%
2010	28,189	Brakes 33%
2009	20,260	Lights and electrics 35%
2008	19,498	Lights and electrics 39%
2007	19,325	Lights and electrics 40%
2006	10,324	Lights and electrics 43%
2005	6,989	Lights and electrics 44%
2004	2,573	Lights and electrics 47%
2003	406	Suspension 46%
2002	129	Suspension 46%
2001	227	Suspension 42%
2000	–	Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Toyota Prius cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score