1999 Toyota RAV4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,803 MOT tests, the 1999 Toyota RAV4 recorded a 73.8% pass rate. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (28.4% fail rate), the 1999 RAV4 comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.9%) and lighting & signalling (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 519 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.0% in the 30-60k band and 32.2% in the 150k+ band, a 15.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.1% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.9% | 618 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 492 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 398 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 377 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.5% | 359 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 238 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 519 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 473 |
| 3 | Wipers | 211 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 205 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 180 |
| 6 | Joints | 175 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.8% | 1,480 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.4% | 1,314 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.3% | 1,069 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.0% | 1,055 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.8% | 1,001 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.8% | 518 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 306 | 17.0% |
| 60-90k | 850 | 22.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,406 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,312 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 913 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,363 | 27.1% |
| 2022 | 1,128 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 923 | 26.7% |
| 2024 | 763 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 626 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 1999 RAV4
On a 1999 RAV4, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.3% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1999 Toyota RAV4s pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 4,803 1999 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Toyota RAV4?
Suspension, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.2%).
Does the 1999 RAV4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 30-60k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,803 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.