Toyota Rav-4
From 48,140 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Rav-4s fare better: 2014 models pass at 83.3% vs 70.2% for 2001.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 1,539 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 1,539 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 1,490 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 1,339 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,258 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,129 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,002 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 952 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 846 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 831 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 782 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.9% of failures are serious: 29.9% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 12% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £109.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 83.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2013 | 81.6% | a tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2012 | 78.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2011 | 75.9% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
15 earlier years
| 2010 | 74.8% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 76.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2008 | 69.6% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 68.7% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 66.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2005 | 70.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 68.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
| 2003 | 69.1% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2002 | 67.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2001 | 70.2% | headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 2000 | 70.8% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1999 | 69% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated |
| 1998 | 69.1% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1997 | 68.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1996 | 66.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Rav-4s tested had between 84,687 and 129,365 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 106,934 median miles, the Rav-4 has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Toyota models
| Toyota Yaris | 76% |
| Toyota Aygo | 78.9% |
| Toyota Prius | 82.4% |
| Toyota Auris | 76.7% |
| Toyota Rav4 | 82.8% |
Common questions
What is the Toyota Rav-4 MOT pass rate?
The Toyota Rav-4 has a 72.3% MOT pass rate based on 48,140 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Toyota Rav-4?
The most common MOT failure on the Toyota Rav-4 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 1,539 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
What is the typical mileage of a Toyota Rav-4 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Toyota Rav-4 is 106,934 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 84,687 and 129,365 miles.
Buying a used Rav-4?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 72.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £109 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.