Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Toyota Rav4?

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 2004 Toyota Rav4?

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 2004 Toyota Rav4?

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 2004 Toyota Rav4 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

30% 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 2004 Toyota Rav4 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 7,758 vehicles, the 2004 Toyota Rav4 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 80.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Rav4?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2004 Toyota Rav4 are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (69.8% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (55.7% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (54.7% 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 2004 Toyota Rav4?

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.

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Toyota Rav4 (2004)

7,758 real MOT outcomes analysed • 80.2% first-time pass rate

2004 Toyota Rav4

CarHunch analysed 7,758 real MOT records for the 2004 Toyota Rav4. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 2004 RAV4 matches the UK average first-time pass rate at 80.2%, which is respectable for a 20-year-old vehicle, but the 30.3% of cars that have recorded dangerous defects is a significant concern—substantially higher than typical and something to investigate closely on any used example. Petrol and diesel variants perform nearly identically (80.3% and 79.6% respectively), so fuel type isn't a deciding factor here.

At a median mileage of 73,784 miles for a vehicle of this age, these RAV4s have been driven relatively lightly, which partly explains the decent pass rate. However, the 25.1 average advisories per vehicle points to widespread wear items and minor issues, and the 3.84 average failures suggest that when problems do occur, they tend to pile up—so budget for a pre-purchase inspection and factor in some maintenance costs when evaluating any candidate.

The 2004 Toyota Rav4 has a decent first-time pass rate (80.2%), 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

80.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

30.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.84

Over 18.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

74k

Middle half: 58k–90k

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 25.1 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 7,758 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 7,758 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 69.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside 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 55.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear 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.

Other issues 26%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,758 Toyota Rav4 cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Toyota Rav4

Based on MOT data from 7,758 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 30.3% 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
Petrol (95%)	7,404	80.3%	3.87
Diesel (4%)	338	79.6%	3.01

Colour Breakdown

Based on 162,841 Toyota Rav4 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 21.5%

34,938

Blue 17.1%

27,808

Grey 16.5%

26,932

Black 15.5%

25,263

White 10.7%

17,478

Red 7.8%

12,695

Green 6.8%

11,063

Beige 2.5%

4,082

Turquoise 0.6%

996

Brown 0.6%

948

Purple 0.2%

344

Gold 0.2%

294

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Toyota Rav4 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.

73,784

typical

58,050

low mileage

89,955

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Toyota Rav4 vehicles fall between 58,050 and 89,955 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,050 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.

✓ 58,050–89,955 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Toyota Rav4s sit.

⚠ Over 121,439 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Toyota Rav4 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 43% of 2004 Toyota Rav4s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 2,865 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (43% of 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

18.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.84

Avg failures per vehicle

25.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Toyota Rav4: All Rav4 years → Which year to buy? →

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Watch for defects — worth knowing