2006 Toyota RAV-4 2.0L Diesel · FY06 AHN

The vehicle passed its most recent MOT on 26 February 2026 at 116,069 miles, having failed the previous day's test over thin rear brake pads, a perished front anti-roll bar linkage dust cover, and persistent advisories including a sump oil leak and cracked rear tyres. This latest pass suggests recent attention to immediate safety defects, yet the recurrence of the same oil leak, headlamp lens contamination, and rear tyre perishing indicates unresolved maintenance issues. The overall trend is mixed: critical brake and wiper faults from earlier years appear addressed, but underlying leaks, corrosion, and tyre condition remain ongoing concerns rather than improving or deteriorating sharply. Mileage accumulation is notably low for a 20-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 5,800 miles annually, which may reflect light usage or extended periods of inactivity. The gap between the February 2026 tests and the prior annual test in February 2025 shows consistent yearly coverage, with no evidence of rapid mileage spikes. However, the low usage pattern could contribute to component degradation from infrequent operation, particularly affecting seals, suspension bushes, and brake components that benefit from regular use. Prospective buyers should prioritise inspecting the brake system thoroughly, given repeated advisories for binding calipers, corroded brake pipes, and worn pads across multiple tests. Particular attention should be paid to the front suspension struts and coil springs, which showed corrosion and oil misting in 2023, as well as the rear brake discs and back plates flagged for wear and insecurity in 2021. The persistent oil leak from the sump, present since at least 2020, warrants investigation for potential gasket or seal replacement, while the recurring rear tyre perishing suggests checking all four tyres for age-related cracking regardless of tread depth.