2023 Toyota RAV4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 290 MOT tests, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 recorded a 98.3% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 5.5% of the time, so this is 3.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (1.4%) and lighting & signalling (1.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1.4% | 4 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 3 |
| 3 | Brakes | 0.3% | 1 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.3% | 1 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 3 |
| 3 | Washers | 1 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1 |
| 5 | Flexible brake hoses | 1 |
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 | 5.2% | 15 |
| 2 | Other defects | 2.1% | 6 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 3 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 2 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 1 |
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 | 193 | 1.6% |
| 30-60k | 76 | 1.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33 | 3.0% |
| 2025 | 250 | 1.6% |
What to check before buying a 2023 RAV4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 1.4% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (1.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (0.3% 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 2023 Toyota RAV4s pass their MOT?
98.3% of the 290 2023 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 1.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Toyota RAV4?
Tyres, recorded in 1.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.0%).
Does the 2023 RAV4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.6% in the 0-30k band to 1.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 290 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.