2008 Toyota RAV4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Toyota RAV4 passed 75.7% of its 34,103 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (27.0% fail rate), the 2008 RAV4 comes out 2.7pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.6%) and lighting & signalling (10.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, shock absorbers and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 1,956 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.3pp more often than petrol ones (26.1% vs 20.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 42.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.6% | 4,290 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 3,578 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 2,925 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 1,693 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,675 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 1,508 |
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 | 1,956 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 1,294 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,060 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,047 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 992 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 930 |
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 | 42.0% | 14,325 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.9% | 10,185 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.4% | 8,337 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.9% | 4,750 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.8% | 4,379 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.5% | 4,277 |
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 | 161 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,127 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 6,893 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 11,305 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 8,610 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 4,997 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,283 | 26.1% |
| Petrol | 11,817 | 20.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,523 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 7,455 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 7,020 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 6,386 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 5,719 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 RAV4
On a 2008 RAV4, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (12.6% 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 (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 2008 Toyota RAV4s pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 34,103 2008 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota RAV4?
Suspension, recorded in 12.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.5%).
Does the 2008 RAV4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 34,103 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.