Toyota Rav 4 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Toyota Rav 4 car check
Is the Toyota Rav 4 reliable? We analysed 5,714 real MOT tests across 508 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Toyota Rav 4? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Toyota Rav 4 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Toyota Rav 4.
Toyota Rav 4 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Toyota Rav 4. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Toyota Rav 4 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Toyota Rav 4 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Toyota Rav 4 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Toyota Rav 4 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Toyota Rav 4 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Toyota Rav 4 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Toyota Rav 4 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Toyota Rav 4 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 71 | 87.3% | 36,476 | 53,807 | 80,378 |
| 2011 | 73 | 78.1% | 32,087 | 51,511 | 80,283 |
| 2010 | 51 | 86.3% | 52,686 | 77,817 | 123,727 |
| 2009 | 89 | 71.9% | 56,465 | 85,510 | 115,386 |
| 2008 | 137 | 81.8% | 45,243 | 69,958 | 90,910 |
| 2007 | 274 | 70.8% | 64,302 | 91,286 | 118,782 |
| 2006 | 332 | 75.0% | 54,466 | 94,999 | 136,849 |
| 2005 | 412 | 77.2% | 62,311 | 94,047 | 124,016 |
| 2004 | 676 | 76.9% | 61,017 | 89,074 | 125,239 |
| 2003 | 582 | 77.1% | 49,600 | 72,928 | 96,853 |
| 2002 | 985 | 75.2% | 61,141 | 88,597 | 119,329 |
| 2001 | 260 | 76.2% | 55,603 | 79,764 | 107,276 |
| 2000 | 289 | 75.1% | 66,222 | 93,847 | 130,247 |
| 1999 | 100 | 70.0% | 70,456 | 100,333 | 127,737 |
| 1998 | 215 | 70.2% | 85,132 | 108,299 | 146,097 |
| 1997 | 147 | 70.1% | 108,169 | 126,251 | 144,377 |
| 1996 | 204 | 69.6% | 91,305 | 111,260 | 141,564 |
| 1995 | 171 | 73.1% | 86,155 | 130,012 | 197,032 |
| 1994 | 151 | 66.2% | 93,246 | 135,929 | 163,427 |
How Long Does a Toyota Rav 4 Last?
Based on 508 Toyota Rav 4 vehicles on UK roads.
Toyota Rav 4 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Toyota Rav 4 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Toyota Rav 4
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.3% MOT pass rate from 71 tests
66.2% MOT pass rate from 151 tests
The best year to buy a used Toyota Rav 4 is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.3% across 71 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Toyota Rav 4 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Rav 4 THIS CAR | 75.1% | 5,714 | 94,458 mi | 32 yrs |
| Toyota Yaris | 77.7% | 9,038,234 | 54,896 mi | 27 yrs |
| Toyota Corolla | 75.4% | 4,239,724 | 75,409 mi | 36 yrs |
| Toyota Avensis | 75% | 3,497,866 | 89,776 mi | 28 yrs |
| Volkswagen Tiguan Match TDI S-a | 90.3% | 9,523 | 34,611 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Toyota Yaris (77.7% pass rate) and the Toyota Corolla (75.4% pass rate), the Toyota Rav 4 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Toyota Rav 4 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Toyota Rav 4Should you buy a used Toyota Rav 4?
The Toyota Rav 4 has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.1% across 5,714 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Toyota Rav 4 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (115 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (110), and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (97). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Toyota Rav 4 owner drives around 5,899 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Toyota Rav 4 models stay on UK roads for around 32 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.