2003 Toyota RAV4 2.0L Petrol · NAR 1A

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance trend shows a clear shift towards reactive mechanical neglect. While it passed its most recent test in June 2025 at 113,033 miles, the record reveals several new advisories that were not present in previous years. The transition from a clean record in 2023 to a failure in 2024 involving a major exhaust leak and an inoperative engine management light suggests that faults are only addressed when they threaten a test pass rather than through preventative maintenance. At 23 years old, the recorded mileage of 113,033 miles represents an average usage of approximately 4,900 miles per year. This low annual mileage suggests the vehicle has seen light use, which often leads to the degradation of rubber-based components regardless of mechanical wear. The data shows consistent intervals of roughly 3,000 to 4,000 miles between tests from 2022 to 2025, but the appearance of perished tyres and deteriorated ball joint dust covers indicates the materials are suffering from age-related decay rather than distance driven. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the front suspension system, as the nearside front lower arm ball joint dust cover has been flagged as severely deteriorated for two consecutive years. The 2025 advisory regarding a noisy nearside front wheel bearing further suggests this component is nearing the end of its service life. Additionally, the rear shock absorbers show worn bushes and the front tyres exhibit signs of cracking and perishing, which implies immediate replacement is likely required to ensure safe handling. Given the history of a major exhaust leak in 2024, the entire exhaust system should be checked for structural corrosion or poor repairs.