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Toyota Rav4 (2017)

7,977 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.7% first-time pass rate

2017 Toyota Rav4

CarHunch analysed 7,977 real MOT records for the 2017 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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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 2017 RAV4 is a reliably built car, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.7% — nearly 10 percentage points above the UK average of 80%. However, one in six of these vehicles (16.1%) has recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful concern for used buyers and worth investigating on any specific example you're considering.

At a median of 42,914 miles, these cars are running low for their age, which explains why they're passing tests readily and averaging just 0.83 failures per vehicle. The real maintenance picture emerges in the 6.5 advisories per car on average — mostly wear items and minor issues — so plan for regular servicing but expect nothing alarming if you buy one that's been properly looked after.

The 2017 Toyota Rav4 passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (89.7%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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
89.7%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
16.1%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.83
Over 7 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
43k
Middle half: 32k–56k
For context
✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.7% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.5 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 7,977 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 7,977 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 39.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 21.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 12.4%
Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Other issues 11.8%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,977 Toyota Rav4 cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2017 Toyota Rav4

Based on MOT data from 7,977 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.1% 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 ClickMechanic →
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (67%) 5,305 89.5% 0.85
Diesel (24%) 1,886 89.9% 0.79
Petrol (10%) 784 90.4% 0.74

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 2017 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.

42,914
typical
32,027
low mileage
56,255
high mileage

Half of all 2017 Toyota Rav4 vehicles fall between 32,027 and 56,255 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
✓ Under 32,027 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.
✓ 32,027–56,255 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Toyota Rav4s sit.
⚠ Over 75,944 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Toyota Rav4 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Toyota Rav4s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 7,503 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

7,729 7,503 2020 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.83
Avg failures per vehicle
6.5
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Toyota Rav4: All Rav4 years → Which year to buy? →
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Average reliability — agree?