2009 Toyota RAV4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,020 MOT tests, the 2009 Toyota RAV4 recorded a 78.2% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 4.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.3%) and lighting & signalling (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, on or after 01/07/2008 and wipers — position lamp alone was recorded 1,162 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.3% versus 9.6%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.6% fail against 22.9% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 21,014 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.3% | 2,175 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 2,116 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 1,688 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.6% | 970 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 883 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.0% | 632 |
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 | 1,162 |
| 2 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 725 |
| 3 | Wipers | 644 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 606 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 567 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 554 |
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 | 38.2% | 8,028 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.3% | 5,944 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.3% | 4,887 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.5% | 2,828 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 2,665 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 2,130 |
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 | 261 | 9.6% |
| 30-60k | 1,620 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,138 | 17.3% |
| 90-120k | 7,211 | 22.3% |
| 120-150k | 4,427 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,363 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,954 | 22.9% |
| Petrol | 5,060 | 18.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,507 | 19.1% |
| 2022 | 4,443 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 4,326 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 4,027 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 3,717 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2009 RAV4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.3% 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 (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% 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 2009 Toyota RAV4s pass their MOT?
78.2% of the 21,020 2009 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Toyota RAV4?
Suspension, recorded in 10.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.1%).
Does the 2009 RAV4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,020 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.