2016 Toyota Prius 1.8L Hybrid electric · YC16 VWD

The most recent MOT on 9 February 2026 was a pass, but it recorded two notable defects: light misting of oil from the nearside front shock absorber and play in the off‑side front steering‑rack inner joint. Both point to emerging wear in the front suspension and steering system. A similar steering‑rack play defect was flagged a year earlier (20 February 2025) together with a front‑undertray that was not fully secure. In that same MOT the rear brake pipes on both sides were described as corroded and covered in grease. The rear‑pipe corrosion re‑appeared in the 2023 MOT, while the 2025 MOT also added the nearside rear pipe to the list. These corrosion notes have persisted for three successive years. Overall the defect pattern is growing rather than receding. The 2024 and 2022 MOTs were clean, but from 2023 onward the MOTs have begun to highlight wear‑related items (brake‑pipe corrosion, steering rack play, shock‑absorber oil). This suggests a trend of gradual deterioration rather than a sudden failure, but the recurrence of the same areas (front steering, rear brake pipes) indicates that the issues are not isolated incidents. At roughly 280 000 mi for a ten‑year‑old Prius, the annual mileage averages about 28 000 mi.