At a Glance
The Toyota Prius XW20 has 2 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Exhaust system fault being the most reported. Electrical is the most common MOT failure category. The most serious issue flagged is Exhaust system fault, rated as dangerous. Based on 395K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Toyota Prius XW20 — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Toyota Prius XW20 MOT Pass Rate
Across 395K MOT tests from DVSA data, the Toyota Prius XW20 (2003–2009) has a fail rate of 27.1%.
UK average fail rate (2006–2009): 38.3%
Common Toyota Prius XW20 Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Exhaust system fault
211
occurrences
Fuel tank corroded or leaking
169
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Toyota Prius XW20 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Toyota Prius XW20 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Toyota Prius XW20, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
529 distinct problems · 554,871 total occurrences in current filter
Aggregates Petrol 1.5L + Petrol Hybrid 1.5L + Other 1.5L
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Other Toyota Prius Generations
XW10
2000–2003
0 problems
XW20
2003–2009
2 problems
Current page
XW30
2009–2015
1 problem
XW50
2015–2022
1 problem
XW60
2023–2025
0 problems
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Toyota Prius XW20 problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Toyota Prius XW20 (2003–2009), we have identified 2 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Exhaust system fault". Electrical is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Toyota Prius XW20?
This generation has 395K MOT tests on record with a 27.1% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Toyota Prius XW20?
There are 183 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the XW20 (2003–2009), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Toyota Prius XW20?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Toyota Prius owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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