Used car guide

2010 Toyota RAV-4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Toyota RAV-4s, from 3,315 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,315MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
7,300typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Toyota RAV-4s than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    18.3% All 2010 cars
    11%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 2.2% of all 2010 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.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.9× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    12.9% All 2010 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 1.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Link ball joint covers2.8× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    7.8% All 2010 cars
    2.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.6% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm1.7× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    7.1% All 2010 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.5% of all 2010 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.

  • Anti-roll bar links9.3× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    2.8% All 2010 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 0.3% of all 2010 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: 1.7% here, against 10.2% of all 2010 cars. Exhaust system: 2.1% here, against 7.6% of all 2010 cars.

By area

The share of 2010 Toyota RAV-4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    35% 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
    30% 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
    27% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    11% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    10% 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.

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%
20091,418Suspension 52%
20081,461Suspension 56%
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 2010 Toyota RAV-4s registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score