Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 Toyota Rav 4?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2011 Toyota Rav 4?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2011 Toyota Rav 4?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2011 Toyota Rav 4 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2011 Toyota Rav 4 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 3,659 vehicles, the 2011 Toyota Rav 4 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 83.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Toyota Rav 4?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Toyota Rav 4 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (58.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.1% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2011 Toyota Rav 4?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Toyota Rav 4 (2011)

3,659 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83.4% first-time pass rate

2011 Toyota Rav 4

CarHunch analysed 3,659 real MOT records for the 2011 Toyota Rav 4. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 RAV-4 passes its MOT slightly better than the UK average at 83.4%, which is reassuring, but nearly 4 in 10 of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a concerning figure that suggests wear-related safety issues are common in this cohort. Petrol versions edge ahead of their diesel counterparts (85.6% vs 83.2%), but the difference is marginal.

These RAV-4s average just under 69,000 miles, which is reasonable for a 13-year-old vehicle, yet they're racking up an average of 2.47 failures per test and nearly 19 advisories each—pointing to accumulating wear rather than catastrophic faults. If you're considering one, budget for incremental repairs and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and exhaust components where the dangerous defect rate suggests problems cluster.

The 2011 Toyota Rav 4 has a decent first-time pass rate (83.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

83.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

39%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.47

Over 13.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

68k

Middle half: 53k–85k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.8 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 3,659 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 3,659 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 58.1%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 43.1%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 38.3%

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 29.2%

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 3,659 Toyota Rav 4 cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Toyota Rav 4

Based on MOT data from 3,659 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (92%)	3,371	83.2%	2.5
Petrol (8%)	287	85.6%	2.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 73,405 Toyota Rav 4 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 26.9%

19,762

Black 18.4%

13,521

Blue 17.1%

12,569

Grey 16.7%

12,245

Green 7.6%

5,578

Red 5.3%

3,855

Beige 4.1%

2,996

White 2.5%

1,863

Turquoise 0.6%

445

Purple 0.4%

263

Gold 0.3%

228

Brown 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Toyota Rav 4 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

68,388

typical

52,981

low mileage

85,122

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Toyota Rav 4 vehicles fall between 52,981 and 85,122 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 52,981 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 52,981–85,122 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Toyota Rav 4s sit.

⚠ Over 114,914 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Toyota Rav 4 — Still on the Road

Most 2011 Toyota Rav 4s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 2,963 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 83% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.47

Avg failures per vehicle

18.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Rav 4: All Rav 4 years → Which year to buy? →

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014

Or browse all models: Toyota →

Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Toyota Rav 4 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing