Diesel Toyota Rav4: MOT pass rate

80.3% of diesel Toyota Rav4s pass the MOT first time, measured across 26,186 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 94,851.

Diesel against the other Toyota Rav4 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Toyota Rav4 specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 92.6%, and this diesel version sits 4.4 points below the 84.7% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Toyota Rav4 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Toyota Rav4 had covered 94,851 miles at test, against 43,461 for the hybrid and 103,530 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Toyota Rav4 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Toyota Rav4

1. Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit, 1.1% of tests (3.98x the national rate for this defect)
2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.6% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.8% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this defect)
4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.3% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 2.7% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.3% of tests (1.18x the national rate for this defect)
7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 5% of tests
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.5% of tests
9. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.7% of tests
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 1.6% of tests

From 26,301 DVSA-tracked diesel Toyota Rav4 tests, 2024, split out from the Toyota Rav4's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.33% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Toyota Rav4

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.1% of tests (2.07x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 9.7% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this defect)
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.5% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9.6% of tests (1.85x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 24% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 16.7% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this defect)
7. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 12% of tests (1.29x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 7.6% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.9% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 27.5% of tests, also fails

From 26,301 DVSA-tracked diesel Toyota Rav4 tests, 2024.

Other Toyota Rav4 fuel types

• Hybrid Toyota Rav4 - 92.6%
• Petrol Toyota Rav4 - 73.5%

All Toyota Rav4 MOT data · Every model