2007 Toyota RAV4 2.2L Diesel · OY57 VDX

A distinctly unusual MOT trail accompanies this nineteen-year-old RAV4, with every entry across two years either a pass with no recorded defects or a fail likewise showing no defect data. While the vehicle was ultimately recorded as passed on 6 January 2026, the run-up to that outcome included three separate attempts in rapid succession, with failures logged on 5 January 2026 and 11 December 2025 alongside another failure on 4 December 2024 that preceded the December 2024 pass. When DVSA test records show repeated test attempts clustered together yet carry no advisory or failure defect detail, it commonly points to items rectified between tests, such as tyre condition, lamp function, emissions readiness, or braking performance figures, but the absence of any recorded commentary leaves the precise mechanical history undisclosed. From a buyer perspective, the lack of advisories is superficially reassuring, yet it offers no insight into underlying wear on a vehicle now well into its third decade of service. Mileage on this RAV4 stands at 172,172 miles, equating to roughly 9,062 miles per year over its nineteen-year life, which sits close to the typical usage envelope for a car of this vintage. The recorded progression is steady rather than erratic, with no apparent gaps in testing that would suggest long periods off the road or sudden, unexplained jumps in odometer readings between annual tests. That continuity supports the view that the vehicle has remained in regular service, which for a high-mileage Toyota of this generation is broadly favourable, given the model’s reputation for drivetrain longevity when consistently used. Equally, however, nearly 173,000 miles means every major mechanical assembly has accumulated substantial wear, and the absence of advisories over the recorded tests does not preclude components that are approaching but not yet beyond the advisory threshold. For a prospective buyer, the practical implication of a clean MOT history on a high-mileage RAV4 is that the car has not yet crossed any flagged defect lines, but the inspection focus should shift to the components most likely to be approaching service limits at this mileage. Pay particular attention to the suspension linkages, including the front lower control arm bushes and rear trailing arm bushes, listening for clonks or knocks over uneven surfaces and feeling for vagueness through the steering on direction changes. On the braking system, although no disc or pad wear has been recorded, the brake discs, calipers, and flexible brake hoses should be examined for corrosion, binding caliper slides, and any sponginess or travel in the pedal that might indicate the front pads and discs are nearing replacement despite not yet being flagged. Steering rack mounting condition, anti-roll bar drop links, and the condition of the coil springs themselves warrant a physical check, as broken spring coils and perished bushes are common age-related findings on RAV4s at this mileage band. Under the bonnet, even without recorded advisories, the high-mileage Toyota four-cylinder engine and drivetrain deserve attention for the usual symptoms of extended service. Listen for any timing chain rattle on cold start, check for oil misting around the cam cover gasket and the rocker cover area, and inspect the underside for any signs of weeping from the rear main seal or gearbox output seals. A road test should include a sustained climb in a higher gear to confirm smooth power delivery without hesitation, and a careful check for clutch slip on full-throttle pulls in fourth or fifth. Finally, examine the exhaust system along its full run for corrosion at the joints and mounting rubbers, as nineteen-year-old exhaust assemblies are typically at the limit of their service life regardless of MOT outcome, and confirm the four-wheel-drive system, if engaged, operates without binding or excessive vibration, given the mileage accumulated.