2004 Toyota RAV4 2.0L Petrol · ML54 KYW

The most recent MOT (30 Oct 2025) was recorded as a PASS, but the same date also shows a FAIL for the nearside side repeater and registration‑plate lamp, plus a note that a suspension component mounting repair is covered in underseal. The vehicle therefore left the test with minor lighting faults and a previously‑repaired suspension mounting. A clear pattern emerges from the three‑year history: progressive corrosion and wear on the rear sub‑frame, coil springs, brake hoses/pipes and the front cross‑member, together with recurring tyre damage and brake‑disc surface wear. The 2024 MOT listed a long list of serious defects – corroded coil springs, insecure side steps, steering‑rack movement, multiple tyre cracks, and extensive body‑structure corrosion. By 2025 most of those items have been reduced to “minor” or “covered in underseal” notes, but the lighting and suspension mounting issues remain. Overall the trend is still worsening, albeit with some defects being addressed rather than disappearing. Mileage is only 128 070 mi on a 22‑year‑old RAV4 – roughly 5 800 mi per year, well below average for a vehicle of this age. Low mileage can mean the car has seen light use, which may have spared the drivetrain and suspension from high‑load wear. However, the low annual run‑off also suggests long periods of inactivity, which can accelerate rust on chassis, suspension mounting points and brake components – exactly what the MOT records show. For a buyer the priority checks are: Inspect the rear sub‑frame, coil springs and front cross‑member for rust, cracks or weakened welds.