2007 Toyota RAV-4 2.0L Diesel · RK07 AJX

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend indicates a pattern of reactive rather than proactive care. While the most recent test in October 2025 at 116,116 miles showed only a minor defect with a nail in the nearside rear tyre, previous years reveal a cycle of failures related to suspension and braking. The vehicle has frequently struggled to meet the MOT standard on the first attempt, suggesting that components are only addressed once they reach a point of total test failure. The mileage pattern is consistent with the age of a 2007 model, averaging approximately 6,100 miles per year. There is a notable gap in records between May 2016 at 89,914 miles and January 2018 at 94,235 miles, during which the vehicle covered fewer than 5,000 miles in twenty months. This low annual usage has not necessarily prevented the natural degradation of rubber and metal components, as evidenced by the recurring corrosion on coil springs and perished bushes recorded throughout the vehicle's life. A buyer should focus their physical inspection on the suspension geometry, as the history shows a persistent trend of issues with worn suspension arm bushes, track rod ends, and the central prop shaft bearing. These faults were flagged across 2023 and 2024, indicating that the front-end assembly is nearing the end of its service life. The rear coil springs also require checking for structural integrity, as corrosion was noted consistently in 2018, 2022, and 2023. The braking system requires close scrutiny given the recorded failures for thin pads and scored discs in 2019 and 2023. Although the ABS warning lamp was a failure in 2019 and 2022, the buyer must verify that this fault has been properly rectified and not merely cleared. Given the age and the history of leaking shock absorbers, a thorough check of the chassis for structural rust around mounting points is essential to ensure no immediate structural expenses are looming.