Toyota Prius (2002)
2002 Toyota Prius
CarHunch analysed 312 real MOT records for the 2002 Toyota Prius.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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Moderate sample. 312 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.
The 2002 Prius passes its MOT at 80.8%, marginally above the UK average of 80%, which suggests middling reliability for a 22-year-old hybrid—though nearly a quarter of these vehicles (23.7%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point, a concern worth taking seriously when inspecting a specific example. At an average mileage of 88,344 miles, these cars have been driven fairly hard, and they're accumulating an average of 3.22 failures and 15.4 advisories per test, indicating that while major faults are moderate, minor wear items and gremlins are common.
Hybrid systems in the early Prius can be expensive to repair once out of warranty, so budget carefully for battery and electric motor work. Before committing to any 2002 Prius, request a full service history and have an independent Toyota specialist inspect the hybrid battery health and electric drive components—this will cost £200–300 upfront but could save you thousands in unexpected repairs.
The 2002 Toyota Prius passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (80.8%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.
These stats describe 312 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 312 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 312 Toyota Prius cars.
Before you buy a 2002 Toyota Prius
Based on MOT data from 312 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
23.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (38%) | 117 | 81.4% | 2.85 |
| Petrol (28%) | 86 | 80.6% | 3.02 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (17%) | 53 | 81.5% | 4.06 |
| Other (16%) | 50 | 79% | 3.48 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 147,373 Toyota Prius vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Toyota Prius vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2002 Toyota Prius vehicles fall between 65,385 and 107,810 miles.
2002 Toyota Prius — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 14% of 2002 Toyota Priuss are still active.
Numbers are declining — 33 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 2002 Toyota Prius stacks up against a rival.