2012 Toyota RAV4 — MOT failures & pass rate
19,984 MOT tests on the 2012 Toyota RAV4 are in this dataset, and 84.8% of them passed. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 7.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.5%) and brakes (5.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, wipers and brake pads — position lamp alone was recorded 862 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.8% once past 150k — 4.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 10.7% fail against 15.8% for diesel, a 5.1-point gap across 19,980 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 1,492 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 1,146 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 1,122 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 786 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.7% | 543 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 331 |
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 | 862 |
| 2 | Wipers | 580 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 513 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 393 |
| 5 | Linkage | 378 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 371 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 26.1% | 5,207 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.5% | 4,888 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.0% | 4,201 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.7% | 1,742 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 1,448 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 952 |
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 | 513 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,804 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 7,415 | 14.2% |
| 90-120k | 5,500 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,030 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 719 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 17,825 | 15.8% |
| Petrol | 2,155 | 10.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,064 | 12.7% |
| 2022 | 4,000 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 4,032 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 3,941 | 16.1% |
| 2025 | 3,947 | 18.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 RAV4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.7% 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.
- Suspension (5.6% 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.
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 2012 Toyota RAV4s pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 19,984 2012 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Toyota RAV4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by brakes (5.7%).
Does the 2012 RAV4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,984 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.