Used car guide

2008 Toyota RAV4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Toyota RAV4s, from 3,022 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,022MOT tests in 2025
60%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,900typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Toyota RAV4s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    20.7% All 2008 cars
    11.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 2.3% 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.

  • Shock absorbers2.1× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    17.1% All 2008 cars
    8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, 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.

  • Number plate lights1.7× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    15% All 2008 cars
    8.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 2.3% of all 2008 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Sub-frame1.7× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    13.1% All 2008 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.1× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    7.4% All 2008 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.9% of all 2008 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.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 5.1% here, against 12.5% of all 2008 cars. Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.9% here, against 7.2% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    58% 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
    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.

  • 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    12% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
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%
20091,497Suspension 54%
20072,978Suspension 57%
20062,031Suspension 52%
20053,072Brakes 44%
20042,976Brakes 47%
20032,273Suspension 45%
20021,603Brakes 46%
2001854Brakes 45%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Toyota RAV4s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score