Used car guide

1999 Toyota RAV4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Toyota RAV4s, from 403 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 403 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

403MOT tests in 2025
64%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
4,500typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 Toyota RAV4s than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Suspension arm3.3× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    10.2% All 1999 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.2% of all 1999 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    12.4% All 1999 cars
    5.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 2.1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    11.7% All 1999 cars
    5.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 1.2% of all 1999 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.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    9.2% All 1999 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.2%, against 4.4% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    7.7% All 1999 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 0.2% of all 1999 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.

By area

The share of 1999 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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
    33% 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
    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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    26% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    18% 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 RAV4?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023251Tyres 7%
202210,279Tyres 19%
202112,327Tyres 22%
202011,662Tyres 23%
20198,888Tyres 25%
20187,371Tyres 29%
20177,832Tyres 26%
20167,645Tyres 26%
20155,347Tyres 27%
20144,631Tyres 28%
20134,414Brakes 31%
20121,541Suspension 35%
2011470Suspension 39%
2010441Suspension 39%
20091,497Suspension 54%
20083,022Suspension 58%
20072,978Suspension 57%
20062,031Suspension 52%
20053,072Suspension 44%
20042,976Brakes 47%
20032,273Suspension 45%
20021,603Suspension 46%
2001854Brakes 45%
2000405Suspension 44%
1998485Suspension 42%
1997241Suspension 45%
1996180Suspension 43%
1995135Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1999 Toyota RAV4s registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score