2004 Toyota Rav-4 MOT pass rate: 70.0% (7,304 tests)
Is the 2004 Rav-4 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 71.1% +7.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 69.0% +5.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 69.5% +4.2 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 Rav-4
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1,694 | 23.6% |
| 2 | Suspension | 1,693 | 23.6% |
| 3 | Brakes | 1,521 | 21.2% |
| 4 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 636 | 8.9% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 545 | 7.6% |
| 6 | Tyres | 427 | 5.9% |
All Rav-4 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,304 | 69.1% | +2.5 pts | 119,218 |
| 2002 | 3,771 | 69.7% | +4.0 pts | 113,311 |
| 2003 | 5,412 | 69.8% | +4.7 pts | 116,057 |
| 2004 (this page) | 7,304 | 70.0% | +5.6 pts | 117,407 |
| 2005 | 9,093 | 70.5% | +6.0 pts | 117,382 |
| 2006 | 9,182 | 65.2% | +0.8 pts | 123,021 |
| 2007 | 7,582 | 65.3% | +0.2 pts | 121,236 |
| 2008 | 4,793 | 67.0% | +1.8 pts | 114,859 |
| 2009 | 4,573 | 72.6% | +6.2 pts | 106,513 |
| 2010 | 10,346 | 74.9% | +7.5 pts | 104,080 |
| 2011 | 9,561 | 76.8% | +7.6 pts | 97,356 |
| 2012 | 5,271 | 79.6% | +8.4 pts | 89,664 |
| 2013 | 4,196 | 82.7% | +9.3 pts | 86,896 |
| 2014 | 3,998 | 83.8% | +7.9 pts | 86,190 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Toyota Rav-4 years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2004 Toyota Rav-4 reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 70.0% of their MOT tests (7,304 tests, 2023–2025), +5.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 117,407 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Rav-4?
The median tested example shows 117,407 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.