Used car guide

2011 Toyota RAV-4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Toyota RAV-4s, from 3,076 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,076MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
7,400typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Toyota RAV-4s than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.3× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    14% All 2011 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1% of all 2011 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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    18.2% All 2011 cars
    10.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.8%, against 2.3% of all 2011 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.3× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    6.3% All 2011 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.6% of all 2011 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.

  • Body structure rust or damage2.9× usual
    Toyota RAV-4
    2.6% All 2011 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 2.5% here, against 8.9% of all 2011 cars. Ball joint: 1.6% here, against 6.1% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Toyota RAV-4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    44% 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
    34% 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.

  • Tyres
    26% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    24% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% 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
    8% 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%
20103,315Suspension 50%
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 2011 Toyota RAV-4s registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score