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Toyota RAV4, Buying guide, MOT record, UK numbers and recalls

142,620 Toyota RAV4s are licensed in the UK. In 2025 they passed 77.6% of initial MOT tests, 5.3 points above the 72.3% UK average.

Looking at a specific RAV4? Check its finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history. £15, no account needed.

Toyota RAV4 at the MOT

77.6% of 132,184 initial tests passed in 2025, ranking the RAV4 231st of 575 models. Toyota RAV4s aged 3 to 5 years passed 91.5% of MOT tests in 2025; for examples aged 11 years and over that fell to 64.3%.

First-time pass rate, 2025

Share of initial tests passed, retests excluded.

  • Toyota RAV477.6%
  • All Toyota modelsThe RAV4 is 2.5 pts ahead75.1%
  • All cars72.3%

Pass rate by age at test

Toyota RAV4 tests in 2025.

  • 3 to 5 years33,239 tests91.5%
  • 6 to 10 years33,628 tests82.4%
  • 11 years and over57,180 tests64.3%

Where RAV4s fail

Share of all failure items recorded on Toyota RAV4 tests in 2025.

  • Suspension23.9%
  • Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment22.9%
  • Brakes15.9%
  • Tyres10.5%
  • Visibility9.3%

The items testers recorded most often were wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively (6%), position lamp not working (5.1%) and pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn (5%).

The MOT page lists every common RAV4 MOT failure. For one car's own results and advisories, run a free MOT history check.

Full Toyota RAV4 MOT record

What to look at on a viewing

The RAV4's most common failure areas, and what a tester checks in each.

  1. Suspension

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for leaking shock absorbers and split rubber gaiters.23.9% of RAV4 failure items

  2. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

    Walk round with every light on: headlights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp. Check no warning lights stay on after starting.22.9% of RAV4 failure items

  3. Brakes

    Make sure the pedal feels firm, the car stops in a straight line, the handbrake holds on a slope and no brake warning light is showing.15.9% of RAV4 failure items

Toyota RAV4s in the UK

142,620 were licensed at the end of June 2026. The number licensed has grown 5.6% since the end of 2014, although it peaked at 152,659 at the end of 2022.

Change since 2014
+5.6%from 135,033 licensed
Typical year of first use
2017half of those licensed at the end of 2025 were first used in 2017 or earlier
First registered in 2025
5,467against 13,071 in 2021
Declared off the road
19,33812% of those registered, under SORN

Licensed Toyota RAV4s since 2014

Licensed at each year end and in the latest quarter.

Show the figures
DateLicensed
End of 2014135,033
End of 2015136,373
End of 2016138,155
End of 2017138,409
End of 2018137,323
End of 2019138,703
End of 2020143,204
End of 2021149,426
End of 2022152,659
End of 2023150,789
End of 2024148,377
End of 2025145,866
End of June 2026142,620

How old they are

Licensed Toyota RAV4s by year of first use.

  • Licensed at the end of 2025
  • First registered that year

A further 18,510 were first used before 2006.

Show the figures
First usedLicensed, end 2025First registered that year
20255,2915,467
20245,7256,100
20236,1826,420
20229,55610,428
202111,79613,071
202011,17612,621
20198,6359,867
20187,2467,607
20177,8508,499
20167,7248,557
20155,9556,917
20146,443
20136,137
20123,380
20113,639
20103,779
20092,892
20084,257
20074,722
20064,082

5,955 RAV4s first used in 2015 were still licensed at the end of 2025, roughly 86% of the 6,917 first registered that year.

RAV4 engines and fuel

2.5 litre engines made up 45% of Toyota RAV4 MOT tests in 2025, followed by 2.0 litre at 34%. Hybrid electric accounts for 41% of licensed RAV4s and diesel for 29%.

Engine size at MOT, 2025

Share of 132,156 initial MOT tests in 2025.

  • 2.5 litre45.2%
  • 2.0 litre33.7%
  • 2.2 litre20.3%

Fuel type, licensed RAV4s

DfT licensing statistics, June 2026.

FuelLicensedShare
Petrol26,17618%
Diesel41,93529%
Plug-in hybrid16,15411%
Hybrid electric58,32441%
Gas31<0.1%

Toyota RAV4 recalls

25 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Toyota RAV4. The 8 most recent are below. Each covers vehicles built in a set period, so a recall does not mean every RAV4 is affected.

  1. Dec 2025 R/2025/466

    Parking Assist ECU reprogram on multiple models

    RAV4s built Oct 2022 to Jun 2025 · 31,897 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    For certain vehicles equipped with a Parking Assist ECU a component of the Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system that displays the rear view image the software may cause the rear view image to freeze or not display
    Remedy
    Reprogram the parking assist ECU.

  2. Nov 2025 R/2025/270

    Combination Meter Reprogramming on Multiple Models

    RAV4s built Jan 2022 to Feb 2025 · 72,335 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    For certain vehicles equipped with the combination meter system (where various information is displayed) that due to an improper programming of the combination meter unnecessarily repetitive data is written to a memory device. This may cause the memory device to deteriorate and the monitor to not display during the meter at start up and remain in this state permanently.
    Remedy
    Reprogram or replace the combination meter.

  3. Oct 2023 R/2023/279

    On affected vehicles there is a possibility that the DCM may not complete the shutdown process within a specific period of time when the ignition is turned off causing the DCM to not restart at the next ignition cycle and making the e-Call function unavailable. As a result the vehicles do not comply with relevant regulations

    RAV4s built Jan 2023 to Jul 2023 · 27,327 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    The software of the DCM (Data Communication Module) will be updated via an Over the Air (OTA) wireless update.

  4. Aug 2023 R/2023/206

    DC-DC converter may have been damaged during production

    RAV4s built Jul 2020 to May 2022 · 3,422 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The plug-in hybrid system of the subject vehicles includes a DC-DC converter that reduces the voltage of the electricity from the Hybrid Vehicle (HV) battery in order to charge the vehicle's 12V battery. Contained within the DC-DC converter is a current rectifying module that is installed on the circuit board. Some of these modules may have been damaged during production by the supplier and could fail so creating a short circuit. This allows current from the 12V battery to continue to flow through the module and the module will generate heat. Under certain conditions if excessive heat is generated components within and outside the DC-DC converter could sustain thermal damage increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
    Remedy
    Replace the DC-DC Converter.

  5. Feb 2023 R/2023/040

    The Hybrid Vehicle Control ECU (HEV-ECU) contains software that could cause the hybrid system to shut down after driving continuously in EV mode in cold temperatures and when the accelerator pedal is rapidly pressed to further accelerate the vehicle. This could result in a loss of drive and an increased risk of a crash

    RAV4s built Nov 2019 to Jun 2021 · 686 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Reprogram the HEV ECU.

  6. Jan 2023 R/2022/326

    The force-limiter in the seat belt retractor may not operate as designed

    RAV4s built Aug 2003 to Sep 2005 · 2 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    The subject front seat belt assemblies are service parts designed for certain Toyota and Lexus models containing a seat belt retractor with a force-limiter function using a torsion shaft which helps control the loads on the occupant applied by the shoulder belt after the seat belt retractor locks up during a crash. During production the torsion shaft may have been manufactured incorrectly and the seat belt may not operate as designed allowing the seat belt to extend further than intended after locking. This can increase the amount of forward displacement of the occupant increasing the risk of an injury in the event of a crash severe enough to activate a force-limiter.
    Remedy
    To inspect and replace the seat belt assembly if required.

  7. Nov 2021 R/2021/315

    The emergency calling system (eCall) may not function when required

    RAV4s built Jul 2020 to Mar 2021 · 26,575 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Remedy
    Inspect the emergency calling system and update DCM software. If the DCM is found to be damaged replace it with updated software.

  8. May 2021 R/2021/104

    There is a possibility that the exhaust gas recirculation cooler could develop an internal coolant leak

    RAV4s built Jun 2015 to May 2018 · 24,241 vehicles across the whole recall

    Defect and remedy
    Defect
    A possibility that the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler could develop an internal coolant leak
    Remedy
    Replace the EGR cooler in all involved vehicles and if necessary replace the inlet manifold.
How to check a specific RAV4 for recalls

RAV4 vs similar cars

Head-to-head comparisons on the same 2025 DVSA data.

Other Toyota models

The most-tested Toyota models in 2025, against the RAV4's 77.6% MOT pass rate.

All 32 Toyota models

Toyota RAV4 FAQs

How many Toyota RAV4s are there in the UK?

142,620 Toyota RAV4s were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, with a further 19,338 declared off the road (SORN), according to DfT vehicle licensing statistics.

Is the Toyota RAV4 reliable?

MOT data does not measure reliability. It records whether a car met the roadworthiness standard on the day of its test. What it does show is a 77.6% first-time pass rate for the Toyota RAV4 across 132,184 tests in 2025, above the 72.3% average for all cars.

Has the Toyota RAV4 had any recalls?

25 DVSA safety recalls launched from 1992 to October 2026 name the Toyota RAV4. The most recent was published in December 2025. A recall applies to vehicles built in a set period, so check a specific car on the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker.

What should I check before buying a used Toyota RAV4?

On the car itself, start with the areas it most often fails on: suspension, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and brakes. Then check the individual car's own records. Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen markers are not part of the MOT record, so they take a history check.

How do I check a Toyota RAV4's history?

Enter the registration of the specific car. A Carpeep car history check reports outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers, mileage history, previous keepers, MOT and tax status, import and export markers and scrapped status in one £15 report.

Already found a RAV4?

Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.

Across the 1,548 vehicles of every make Carpeep has checked since November 2025, 19% had outstanding finance recorded and 13% an insurance write-off. More on the Toyota history check. To confirm a car's identity, see the Toyota VIN check.

  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off records
  • Stolen markers
  • Mileage history
  • Previous keepers

MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, retests excluded), which also gives the engine sizes. Licensed, SORN, fuel and registration figures are from the Department for Transport vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0120, VEH0124, VEH0160). Recalls are from the DVSA vehicle recalls data, with recalls launched up to October 2026. Government data is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability. History-check findings are anonymous counts from reports bought on Carpeep, each vehicle counted once, and are published only where at least 100 vehicles returned an answer.