Used car guide

2008 Toyota RAV-4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Toyota RAV-4s, from 1,461 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,461MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,900typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Toyota RAV-4s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Shock absorbers2× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    15.7% All 2008 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.9%, against 2.1% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Sub-frame1.9× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    15.1% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Suspension arm2.2× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    8.2% All 2008 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.4% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Prop shaft31× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    3.1% All 2008 cars
    0.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Anti-roll bar links6.8× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    2.7% All 2008 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 5.6% here, against 12.5% of all 2008 cars. Ball joint: 1.7% here, against 6.5% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Toyota RAV-4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    56% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    37% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    30% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Toyota RAV-4?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20141,323Tyres 31%
20131,375Brakes 31%
20121,720Suspension 41%
20113,076Suspension 44%
20103,315Suspension 50%
20091,418Suspension 52%
20072,195Suspension 58%
20062,562Suspension 56%
20052,537Brakes 46%
20042,057Suspension 46%
20031,555Suspension 45%
20021,090Suspension 43%
2001633Brakes 47%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Toyota RAV-4s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score