2006 Toyota RAV-4 2.2L Diesel · RO06 LMY

The most recent DVSA MOT test for this 2006 Toyota RAV-4 took place on 2 May 2024 and resulted in a pass with no defects or advisories recorded, indicating roadworthy compliance at the time of inspection. The prior test on 26 February 2024 returned a failure, but again with no specific defects recorded in the official history, which typically suggests the failure was an administrative or minor technicality that was rectified within the same calendar year. Two further passes on 3 May 2023 and 1 April 2022, both free of advisories, demonstrate a generally stable and consistent maintenance pattern. The absence of recurring failure items across four consecutive tests is a positive indicator, suggesting the vehicle has not developed chronic mechanical faults that repeatedly compromise its roadworthiness. With 157,809 miles accumulated over approximately twenty years, this RAV-4 averages around 7,890 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and represents moderate rather than extreme usage. There are no significant gaps or unusually rapid mileage accumulation visible between the recorded test dates, implying steady, consistent use that should have kept mechanical components regularly exercised. While the mileage is not exceptionally high, a diesel or petrol unit of this vintage with well over 150,000 miles will inevitably have experienced considerable wear on major drivetrain, suspension, and braking components. The consistent annual mileage suggests the vehicle has not been left standing for prolonged periods, which helps mitigate some of the corrosion and degradation issues associated with low-use or garage-stored cars. Despite the clean MOT history, a prospective buyer should approach a twenty-year-old vehicle with practical, age-appropriate inspection priorities. Tyres should be examined closely for sidewall perishing and cracking from age, even if the tread depth remains legal, as rubber compounds deteriorate with calendar age regardless of mileage. Brake discs, particularly those on the rear of four-wheel-drive variants, may exhibit corrosion ridges or binding calipers from infrequent heavy braking, and these are conditions that do not always manifest as advisories but can cause uneven braking or pulling. The 12V battery is likely due for replacement given the vehicle's age, and the buyer should verify the alternator is charging correctly. A test drive should include firm braking from moderate speed to check for shudder, as well as listening for suspension clonks over speed bumps to detect worn bushes or top mounts. Service history verification is equally important for a vehicle of this vintage. The timing chain or belt replacement interval must be confirmed according to manufacturer schedules, and a full service history with stamps at appropriate intervals provides strong evidence of mechanical upkeep. Coolant, brake fluid, and gearbox or differential oil all degrade with time and should have been changed regardless of mileage, so documentation of these calendar-based services is valuable. On the test drive, listen for any whining from the transmission, particularly on a RAV-4 which may have four-wheel-drive system components requiring inspection. Finally, check for fluid leaks beneath the vehicle, inspect the exhaust for corrosion or blowing joints, and examine the underside for structural rust, paying particular attention to suspension arms, subframe mounting points, and brake and fuel line corrosion, as these age-related concerns are not necessarily reflected in MOT outcomes but remain critical to the long-term roadworthiness of a vehicle now two decades old.