Toyota Rav 4 MOT Failures
An analysis of 337,361 real DVSA MOT tests on the Toyota Rav 4 — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Toyota Rav 4 fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Toyota Rav 4 is towbar fault — this model is 158 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it an extreme outlier for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 337,361 MOT tests, 0.32% of all Toyota Rav 4 tests recorded this as a failure.
Bodywork failures usually mean structural corrosion — not cosmetic rust, but rot that affects the car's structural integrity. Check sills, subframes, and chassis rails carefully, especially on older examples.
Other notable weak points include anti-roll bar links worn (42x the fleet average), emissions failure (40x the fleet average), seat mounting fault (32x the fleet average), and brake hoses perished or damaged (31x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Toyota Rav 4's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 7 categories: Bodywork, Suspension, Exhaust & Emissions, Seatbelts & Airbags, Brakes and others. If you're inspecting a Toyota Rav 4 before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Toyota Rav 4's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Toyota Rav 4 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are seat mounting fault (32x the average) and anti-roll bar links worn (31x). headlight fault (24x) and tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned (22x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Toyota Rav 4 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are anti-roll bar links worn (42x the average) and suspension ball joints worn (37x). brake hoses perished or damaged (31x) and headlight fault (28x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Toyota Rav 4 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are steering rack wear (111x the average) and towbar fault (39x). tyre wear or damage (24x) and emissions failure (19x) also appear frequently.
The shift from seat mounting fault at lower mileages to steering rack wear at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Found a Toyota Rav 4 you like?
Check its dealer service history before you commit.
£6.99 · Full refund if no records found
What to check before buying a Toyota Rav 4
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Toyota Rav 4:
Bodywork — check for towbar fault, fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective .... Suspension — check for anti-roll bar links worn. Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure. Seatbelts & Airbags — check for seat mounting fault.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Check this Toyota Rav 4's service history
See every franchised dealer visit, dates, mileage readings, and work done. Know whether the maintenance that prevents these MOT failures was actually done.
£6.99 · Full refund if no records found
Toyota Rav 4 MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Toyota Rav 4?
Based on 337,361 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is towbar fault — at 158x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include anti-roll bar links worn and emissions failure.
Is the Toyota Rav 4 reliable based on MOT data?
The Toyota Rav 4 has 23 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is towbar fault. Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Toyota Rav 4 most commonly fails on steering rack wear and towbar fault. Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are seat mounting fault and anti-roll bar links worn.
How do I check a Toyota Rav 4's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.