2012 Toyota Prius MOT pass rate: 83.2% (22,936 tests)
Is the 2012 Prius getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 85.2% +12.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 82.0% +11.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 82.5% +12.2 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2012 Prius
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3,283 | 32.8% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,918 | 19.2% |
| 3 | Brakes | 1,701 | 17.0% |
| 4 | Tyres | 1,362 | 13.6% |
| 5 | Visibility | 657 | 6.6% |
| 6 | Steering | 288 | 2.9% |
All Prius years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,541 | 73.6% | +9.3 pts | 153,139 |
| 2005 | 6,893 | 74.8% | +10.2 pts | 151,696 |
| 2006 | 10,215 | 72.7% | +8.2 pts | 150,546 |
| 2007 | 19,136 | 74.5% | +9.4 pts | 142,450 |
| 2008 | 19,332 | 76.0% | +10.9 pts | 143,608 |
| 2009 | 20,095 | 76.5% | +10.1 pts | 149,512 |
| 2010 | 27,977 | 78.9% | +11.6 pts | 170,700 |
| 2011 | 20,837 | 80.1% | +11.0 pts | 178,036 |
| 2012 (this page) | 22,936 | 83.2% | +12.0 pts | 160,423 |
| 2013 | 25,656 | 85.8% | +12.5 pts | 155,010 |
| 2014 | 35,123 | 88.5% | +12.6 pts | 145,467 |
| 2015 | 39,293 | 89.5% | +10.8 pts | 147,943 |
| 2016 | 43,458 | 90.7% | +9.4 pts | 123,006 |
| 2017 | 44,486 | 92.4% | +8.4 pts | 92,790 |
| 2018 | 42,184 | 93.0% | +6.8 pts | 83,867 |
| 2019 | 47,163 | 93.2% | +4.8 pts | 79,186 |
| 2020 | 26,096 | 91.7% | +1.9 pts | 47,796 |
| 2021 | 5,427 | 94.3% | +3.9 pts | 45,204 |
| 2022 | 1,681 | 94.8% | +3.5 pts | 41,270 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Toyota Prius years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2012 Toyota Prius reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 83.2% of their MOT tests (22,936 tests, 2023–2025), +12.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 160,423 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 Prius?
The median tested example shows 160,423 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.