2006 Toyota RAV4 — MOT failures & pass rate
39,501 MOT tests on the 2006 Toyota RAV4 are in this dataset, and 74.3% of them passed. That is 2.1 percentage points better than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 27.8%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.9%) and lighting & signalling (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 2,268 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.8% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (27.4% vs 23.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 5,501 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 4,825 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 3,284 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 2,461 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 1,997 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 1,851 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,268 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,120 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,801 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 1,402 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,370 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 1,202 |
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 | 39.6% | 15,647 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.8% | 12,560 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.8% | 9,794 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 6,474 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.6% | 5,764 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.3% | 5,642 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 183 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,786 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 6,984 | 21.1% |
| 90-120k | 13,261 | 24.8% |
| 120-150k | 10,749 | 28.4% |
| 150k+ | 6,478 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,630 | 27.4% |
| Petrol | 18,848 | 23.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,647 | 24.2% |
| 2022 | 8,984 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 8,058 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 6,972 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 5,840 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 RAV4
On a 2006 RAV4, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (13.9% 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 (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2006 Toyota RAV4s pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 39,501 2006 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Toyota RAV4?
Suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.2%).
Does the 2006 RAV4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,501 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.