Toyota RAV4
Registered from 1994 to 2023.
About this model
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Having sold over 15 million units worldwide as of 2025, the RAV4 is the best-selling SUV of all time. The car is credited with popularizing compact crossover automobiles, often credited as the first modern compact crossover SUV. In February 2025, the RAV4 replaced the Ford F-150 as the best-selling car in the United States, after nearly four decades of the latter's reign.
From the Wikipedia article Toyota RAV4, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2020 2.5 hybrid. 531 of 12,835 tests failed, 4%.
Better than 91% of 2020 cars. The typical one fails 8%, across 906 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 70% | 371 |
| Visibility | 16% | 84 |
| Lights and electrics | 9% | 48 |
| Brakes | 5% | 28 |
| Plates and identity | 5% | 24 |
| Body and structure | 2% | 13 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
- Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 70% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brakes — 5% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 9% of its failures
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 16% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 9% of its inspections, against the 16% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 2% | 5% | 4,256 | |
| 20–40k miles | 4% | 10% | 6,118 | |
| 40–60k miles | 6% | 13% | 1,680 | |
| 60–80k miles | 8% | 14% | 564 | |
| 80–100k miles | 13% | 16% | 144 | |
| 100–120k miles | 9% | 16% | 58 |
12,820 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 20k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 2.5 hybrid · 189 hp · 1993 kg · 2690 mm wheelbase · 1.1 L/100km (WLTP) · 166 Wh/km |
| 2021 | 2.5 hybrid · 182 hp · 1996 kg · 2690 mm wheelbase · 1.0 L/100km (WLTP) · 166 Wh/km |
| 2020 | 2.5 hybrid · 182 hp · 1996 kg · 2690 mm wheelbase · 0.9 L/100km (WLTP) · 166 Wh/km |
| 2019 | 2.5 petrol · 174 hp · 1699 kg · 2687 mm wheelbase · 5.5 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 2.5 petrol · 153 hp · 1727 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 6.1 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 2.0 diesel · 140 hp · 1611 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 4.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2.0 diesel · 138 hp · 1631 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 4.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.0 diesel · 124 hp · 1643 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 2.0 diesel · 122 hp · 1640 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 2.2 diesel · 148 hp · 1692 kg · 2634 mm wheelbase · 6.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 2.2 diesel · 150 hp · 1691 kg · 2561 mm wheelbase · 6.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 2.2 diesel · 152 hp · 1697 kg · 2543 mm wheelbase · 6.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00160/20
The ammonium nitrate propellant used in the airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high-temperature cycling. In the event of an airbag being deployed, it may deploy too slowly or the excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to rupture and metal fragments may pass through the cushion material causing injury to the occupants.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00244/23
The voltage of the high voltage (HV) battery may drop rapidly when the accelerator pedal is rapidly pressed to further accelerate the vehicle after it has been continuously driven in “EV mode” in cold outside temperatures.As a result, the hybrid system will shut down, resulting in loss of motive power, which may lead to an increased risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00429/23
The auxiliary battery terminal may be faulty. This can disable the power steering support. Moreover, the battery terminal can overheat at low speeds, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00444/21
Due to insufficient durability, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak which could create smouldering deposits inside the EGR cooler and the intake manifold.This may result in localised thermal damage in the intake system, which might lead to engine power reduction and to increased risk of fire.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00794/24
The design of the accessory immobilizer is not robust enough. It allows the vehicle to be in 'Ready ON' mode even when no match is found between the vehicle and its key but will switch the vehicle to 'Ready OFF' after. It can happen while driving, which will stop the car and increase the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01370/21
Due to a specific software update error that can cause an abrupt reset, the Data Communication Module (DCM) may become damaged. As a result, it will no longer be possible to initiate an emergency call using the eCall system. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01663/22
The seat-belt retractors may not function properly, where the force limiter may allow the seat belt to extend more than intended. This in turn may increase the amount of forward motion of the occupant, increasing the risk of injury, in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01675/23
The DC-DC converter may be faulty, which can cause the current from the 12V battery to continue to flow, generating heat and increasing the risk of a vehicle fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for suchvehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
5 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.