2015 Toyota RAV4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 31,020 MOT tests, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 recorded an 88.8% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 15.7% of the time, so this is 4.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.4%) and suspension (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and brake pads — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,526 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.1% versus 6.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.1% of the time against 11.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 1,368 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.7% | 1,154 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.7% | 1,136 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 1,132 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 889 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 91 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 1,526 |
| 2 | Wipers | 830 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 778 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 548 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 516 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 461 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.4% | 6,949 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.5% | 6,046 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.9% | 4,012 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 2,436 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 1,336 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 633 |
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 | 2,006 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 11,287 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 11,356 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 4,655 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,245 | 16.0% |
| 150k+ | 471 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 26,494 | 11.3% |
| Petrol | 4,487 | 10.1% |
| Hybrid | 39 | 15.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,290 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 6,305 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 6,194 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 6,149 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 6,082 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a 2015 RAV4
On a 2015 RAV4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
- Tyres (3.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Toyota RAV4s pass their MOT?
88.8% of the 31,020 2015 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Toyota RAV4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by suspension (3.7%).
Does the 2015 RAV4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,020 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.