TOYOTA RAV4 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 4,952 MOT tests from 486 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®. The figures below describe that VehicleScore® sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are not a claim that every TOYOTA RAV4 has the same fault.

TOYOTA RAV4's have a very good reliability rating of 664/999. The score was calculated from the average of every TOYOTA RAV4 that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the TOYOTA RAV4.

TOYOTA RAV4 (example)

Check the reliability of your Toyota RAV4

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Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
Hybrid Electric	2019	896/999Excellent	75,494 miles	4,754 vehicles
Diesel	2018	792/999Very good	76,182 miles	549 vehicles
Hybrid Electric	2018	800/999Excellent	76,864 miles	2,795 vehicles
Diesel	2016	734/999Very good	74,427 miles	2,520 vehicles
Hybrid Electric	2016	789/999Very good	78,360 miles	2,370 vehicles
Petrol	2015	780/999Very good	69,123 miles	637 vehicles
Diesel	2014	697/999Good	84,615 miles	3,870 vehicles
Petrol	2014	763/999Very good	74,515 miles	586 vehicles
Diesel	2013	658/999Good	90,036 miles	1,907 vehicles
Diesel	2010	611/999Good	89,319 miles	659 vehicles
Diesel	2008	464/999Average	84,559 miles	902 vehicles
Petrol	2008	522/999Above average	91,838 miles	527 vehicles
Petrol	2004	523/999Above average	84,915 miles	2,221 vehicles
Diesel	2002	528/999Above average	80,049 miles	603 vehicles
Diesel	2001	526/999Above average	75,931 miles	605 vehicles
Petrol	2001	540/999Above average	78,557 miles	2,091 vehicles

How reliable is the TOYOTA RAV4?

Based on 4,952 MOT tests from 486 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore®.

Vehicles

486

MOT tests

4,952

Pass rate

83%

Median mileage

80,890 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore® MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every TOYOTA RAV4 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore® in this sample is 730 out of 999.

Common TOYOTA RAV4 MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 709 advisory comments and 36 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 186 advisory comments and 35 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 155 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Corrosion

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 127 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record corrosion the tester could see on the body or structure. Corrosion already named on a spring, brake, or other component is counted with that component.

What to inspect

Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE REAR BRAKE PIPE CORRODED, COVERED IN GREASE OR OTHER MATERIAL (1.1.11 (C))

Oil leak

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 81 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 31 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED OR BROKEN (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Lamp and bulb faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 25 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a lamp or bulb other than a headlamp or indicator.

What to inspect

Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE FRONT POSITION LAMP NOT WORKING (4.2.1 (A) (II))

Parking brake faults

VehicleScore® MOT data includes 22 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record a parking brake that did not hold well enough or had a component defect.

What to inspect

Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Example MOT wording: PARKING BRAKE EFFICIENCY BELOW REQUIREMENTS (1.4.2 (A) (I))

TOYOTA RAV4 MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore® has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2025	10	0	—	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2024	12	1	100%	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2023	21	22	95.5%	Tyre wear
2022	29	60	93.3%	Tyre wear
2021	20	61	93.4%	Tyre wear
2020	29	110	93.6%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2019	23	113	93.8%	Tyre wear, Suspension arm issues
2018	31	209	88%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2017	56	463	85.1%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2016	41	381	87.1%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2015	33	328	87.8%	Tyre wear, Suspension arm issues
2014	26	287	85.7%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2013	19	246	82.9%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2012	8	119	79%	Brake pad wear, Tyre wear
2011	7	99	82.8%	Shock absorber issues, Tyre wear
2010	6	97	81.4%	Brake pad wear, Brake disc wear
2008	17	340	77.6%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2007	12	234	82.1%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2006	8	152	82.2%	Tyre wear, Suspension arm issues
2005	18	367	78.5%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2004	17	381	78.7%	Corrosion, Tyre wear
2003	8	201	81.1%	Corrosion, Brake pad wear
2002	8	183	80.9%	Corrosion, Brake disc wear

What to check when buying a used TOYOTA RAV4

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore® sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Lamp and bulb faults. Switch on the side, brake, fog, and number-plate lamps.
Parking brake faults. Test that the parking brake holds the car on a slope and releases cleanly.

Buying a TOYOTA RAV4?

Common problems tell you what can affect TOYOTA RAV4s generally. VehicleScore® can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore® analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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