2012 Toyota RAV4 MOT pass rate: 81.1% (4,664 tests)
Is the 2012 RAV4 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2012-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83.7% +11.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 82.1% +11.1 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 77.4% +7.2 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 2012 RAV4
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 485 | 24.3% |
| 2 | Brakes | 479 | 24.0% |
| 3 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 348 | 17.4% |
| 4 | Tyres | 215 | 10.8% |
| 5 | Visibility | 165 | 8.3% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 116 | 5.8% |
All RAV4 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3,016 | 69.4% | +2.8 pts | 119,013 |
| 2002 | 5,746 | 68.8% | +3.1 pts | 118,535 |
| 2003 | 7,983 | 69.7% | +4.7 pts | 115,344 |
| 2004 | 9,890 | 70.4% | +6.0 pts | 109,793 |
| 2005 | 10,005 | 72.1% | +7.6 pts | 109,206 |
| 2006 | 6,970 | 67.8% | +3.3 pts | 108,946 |
| 2007 | 10,023 | 67.3% | +2.1 pts | 114,582 |
| 2008 | 10,017 | 68.1% | +2.9 pts | 114,034 |
| 2009 | 4,936 | 69.2% | +2.8 pts | 109,100 |
| 2012 (this page) | 4,664 | 81.1% | +9.9 pts | 86,134 |
| 2013 | 13,450 | 83.3% | +10.0 pts | 87,952 |
| 2014 | 14,105 | 84.4% | +8.6 pts | 80,872 |
| 2015 | 16,077 | 86.4% | +7.7 pts | 72,127 |
| 2016 | 22,802 | 87.3% | +5.9 pts | 62,448 |
| 2017 | 23,362 | 87.9% | +3.9 pts | 55,038 |
| 2018 | 21,780 | 88.8% | +2.5 pts | 44,066 |
| 2019 | 26,751 | 94.4% | +6.0 pts | 38,915 |
| 2020 | 35,087 | 94.9% | +5.0 pts | 32,991 |
| 2021 | 18,568 | 94.8% | +4.4 pts | 29,417 |
| 2022 | 7,008 | 96.5% | +5.3 pts | 25,612 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Toyota RAV4 years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
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- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2012 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
2012-registered examples passed 81.1% of their MOT tests (4,664 tests, 2023–2025), +9.9 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 14 years old with a median 86,134 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2012 RAV4?
The median tested example shows 86,134 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.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2012 RAV4?
In this cohort petrols pass 86.9% of tests against 80.4% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
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.