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Family SUV · 1996–2021 cars

Toyota RAV4 reliability

The Toyota RAV4 fails 25.3% of first MOT tests, 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 390,585 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 68/100#24 of 59 family suvs

Checking a Toyota RAV4 before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
25.3%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
20% fewer
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
390,585
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
8,700
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Toyota RAV4 has a strong MOT record. Across 390,585 tests from 2022 to 2024, its first-time fail rate was 25.3%, against 28.4% for all cars. It has 20% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, and ranks 24 of 59 models in its group. The 2019 model year was best, with 42% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage. The 1998 model year was weakest, with 5% more MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage.

A good record does not mean a faultless car, so check the car in front of you. Start with the position lamp and the wiper blades, which were the most common MOT failures at 2.68% and 2.58% of tests. Then check the brake pads, worn below 1.5mm, and the tyre tread, below 1.6mm.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Toyota RAV4 ages

Each point is the share of Toyota RAV4s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

0%12.5%25%37.5%50%3691215182124Age at MOT (years)
Toyota RAV4All cars
Toyota RAV4 first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Toyota RAV4All cars
38.2%12.3%
410.4%14.1%
512.9%16.4%
614.5%19.1%
715.5%22.1%
817.6%25.5%
919.6%28.8%
1021%31.8%
1124.4%34.6%
1228.1%37.3%
1332.4%39.5%
1435.2%41.1%
1538.4%42.3%
1638.3%42.9%
1738.3%43.4%
1837.3%43.5%
1938.1%43.4%
2039.3%42.8%
2139%41.4%
2238.5%40.6%
2340.8%38.9%
2439.4%37.1%
2541%35.8%

By year

The best and worst Toyota RAV4 years

2019 cars come out best and 1998 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Toyota RAV4 MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
2021 RAV44,4987.8%36% fewer fails28,046
2020 RAV420,7597.8%42% fewer fails32,484
2019 RAV424,6968.1%42% fewer fails34,587
2018 RAV424,89213.3%11% fewer fails36,992
2017 RAV426,23314.3%21% fewer fails47,690
2016 RAV426,01514.1%33% fewer fails55,709
2015 RAV418,77417%31% fewer fails65,358
2014 RAV420,67018.7%34% fewer fails75,021
2013 RAV420,37520%36% fewer fails81,021
2012 RAV411,42623.3%30% fewer fails82,473
2011 RAV412,86727.1%26% fewer fails90,829
2010 RAV413,68729.4%25% fewer fails97,807
2009 RAV411,42732.7%21% fewer fails104,409
2008 RAV418,16337.4%13% fewer fails111,096
2007 RAV422,17339.4%10% fewer fails114,655
2006 RAV420,80539.9%10% fewer fails114,521
2005 RAV424,34235.6%20% fewer fails111,808
2004 RAV421,88137.7%15% fewer fails111,472
2003 RAV417,15339%12% fewer fails114,864
2002 RAV412,38238.5%12% fewer fails116,069
2001 RAV46,85939.6%7% fewer fails118,062
2000 RAV42,98040.2%2% fewer fails111,961
1999 RAV43,15738.8%1% fewer fails115,283
1998 RAV43,23740.2%5% more fails115,574
199786845.9%21% more fails116,979
199626641.7%13% more fails113,174

Common problems

What fails most on a Toyota RAV4

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Lights and electrics9.4%30% below avg
  • Suspension8.6%20% below avg
  • Brakes6.7%20% below avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.6%14% below avg
  • Tyres3.8%41% below avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.6%14% below avg
  • Body, chassis and structure3.2%34% below avg
  • Seat belts and airbags1.3%17% below avg
  • Steering0.5%80% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Position lamp not working 2.68% of tests

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  2. 2

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.58% of tests

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

  3. 3

    Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.75% of tests

    Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.

  4. 4

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.31% of tests

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  5. 5

    Coil spring fractured or broken 1.17% of tests

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  6. 6

    Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.17% of tests

    A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.

  7. 7

    Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 1.15% of tests

    Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.

  8. 8

    Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.13% of tests

    A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Toyota RAV4's MOT certificate most often.

  • Tyre worn close to legal limit11.7%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored8.42%
  • Tyre slightly damaged or cracking7.51%
  • Brake pads wearing thin7.39%
  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy6.65%
  • Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear6.26%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Toyota RAV4

  1. 1

    Position lamp not working

    A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.

  2. 2

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

  3. 3

    Brake pads worn below 1.5mm

    Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.

  4. 4

    Tyre tread below 1.6mm

    Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

  5. 5

    Every MOT since new

    Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.

  6. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Toyota RAV4 covers about 8,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 7

    Finance, stolen and write-off

    The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

  • Diesel41.8%
  • Petrol31.2%
  • Hybrid26.8%
  • Other0.1%
  • LPG0%
  • Electric0%

Most common colours

Grey, Silver, Black, Blue, White

Average engine size: 2.2 litres.

Compare

How the Toyota RAV4 compares with its rivals

Toyota RAV4 against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Audi Q515.3%38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi Q315.5%29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volvo XC6019.5%22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota RAV425.3%20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Freelander33.4%17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Hyundai Tucson17.5%3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 300828.6%21% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Toyota models.

Questions

Toyota RAV4 questions, answered

Is the Toyota RAV4 reliable?

On MOT results, the Toyota RAV4 is better than average: it fails 25.3% of first MOT tests, 20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 24 of 59 family suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Toyota RAV4 MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Toyota RAV4 are position lamp not working (2.68% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.58% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (1.75% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 9.4% of its tests.

Which Toyota RAV4 year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2019 cars do best (42% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 1998 cars do worst (5% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Toyota RAV4 do a year?

A typical Toyota RAV4 covers about 8,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Toyota RAV4 before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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