Used car guide

2009 Toyota RAV4: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 Toyota RAV4s, from 1,497 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,497MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
7,000typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 Toyota RAV4s than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    18.9% All 2009 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 2.3% of all 2009 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× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    14.7% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 2% of all 2009 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.

  • Diesel smoke emissions6.6× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    5.9% All 2009 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.7%, against 0.8% of all 2009 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.3× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    7% All 2009 cars
    3.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.8%, against 1.8% of all 2009 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.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.5× usual
    Toyota RAV4
    6.3% All 2009 cars
    2.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 4.4% here, against 10.4% of all 2009 cars. Exhaust system: 3.7% here, against 8.4% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 Toyota RAV4 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% 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.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    28% 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
    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
    11% 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 RAV4?

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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%
20083,022Suspension 58%
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 2009 Toyota RAV4s registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score