2009 Toyota RAV4 2.2L Diesel · FP09 EWS

A persistent theme runs through the MOT history of this RAV4 and it centres squarely on the front suspension and rear underbody. Across every recorded test from March 2023 through to April 2026, the nearside and offside front lower suspension arm rear bushes have been flagged as worn, and rear coil springs have carried corrosion advisories on both sides for three consecutive years. The April 2026 pass confirms the trend is not stabilising; the front arm bushes remain advisory items and a new minor defect was logged for a severely deteriorated upper anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover on the offside front. The rear brake discs were first noted as pitted and scored in 2023, recurred in 2024, and have since dropped from the record, which suggests they were renewed, but the suspension and spring corrosion narrative is clearly entrenched rather than resolved. This is a chassis that has been working hard against salt and surface corrosion, and the buyer should view the front end and rear springs as priority areas for imminent intervention. The recorded mileage of 93,320 against a 2009 registration equates to roughly 5,500 miles per year, which is well below the typical accumulation for a vehicle of this age. The annual MOT cadence appears consistent with light, regular use rather than long periods off the road, but the pattern of underbody advisories suggests the miles covered have included a disproportionate share of winter or treated-road conditions. Importantly, low annual mileage does not exempt the suspension, springs and brake components flagged here from wear, since corrosion is governed more by environmental exposure and age than by distance travelled, and the bushes and ball joints degrade through cyclical loading and oxidation regardless of odometer reading. For a prospective buyer, the immediate mechanical priorities are the front lower suspension arm rear bushes, the upper anti-roll bar linkage, and the rear coil springs. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over uneven roads, particularly on acceleration or over speed humps, which would indicate the worn bushes have progressed to the point of allowing excessive movement. Pay close attention to steering response; any vagueness, a delay between steering input and front wheel reaction, or a shimmy under braking would reinforce concerns about the front arm condition. The deteriorated anti-roll bar linkage dust cover is a minor defect today, but it flags a joint that will soon allow water and grit ingress, so physically inspect the boot for splits and check for any play when the wheel is jiggled at rest. The rear coil spring corrosion advisories warrant a visual inspection from beneath the vehicle; surface scale on the springs themselves is typical for a car of this age, but flaking that exposes deep pitting or any visible sagging of the rear ride height would indicate springs nearing replacement. Brake feel is also worth scrutinising given the historical rear disc pitting, even though that advisory is no longer current. On the road, a pulsing or vibrating brake pedal under firm application, or any grinding noise from the rear axle, would suggest the replacement discs have worn unevenly or the caliper slides are binding, which is common on vehicles that see limited but predominantly urban mileage. Inspect all four tyres closely for the inner-edge wear pattern noted on the offside front in April 2026, as uneven inner-edge wear on a front wheel typically points to worn suspension bushes allowing geometry to drift, directly tying back to the recurring front arm advisories. Finally, given the age and the underbody corrosion pattern, a lift on a ramp prior to purchase is strongly advised to check the rear spring pans, subframe mounting points and brake pipe runs for any emerging rust that has not yet been flagged at test time.