2004 HONDA CR-V2.0L Petrol

The vehicle shows a consistent history of minor failures and recurring issues regarding the exhaust system and rubber components. The most recent test in February 2026 at 78,531 miles passed, but noted a minor exhaust leak around the central exhaust gasket. This issue is a persistent trend, dating back to 2022 and 2023, where similar leaks were flagged across different exhaust sections. While the vehicle currently passes, the recurring nature of these leaks suggests the owner addresses only the minimum requirements for MOT rather than performing a comprehensive system overhaul. The mileage profile is notably low for a 22-year-old Honda, averaging roughly 3,500 miles per year. However, a significant jump in usage occurred between March 2025 and February 2026, where the car covered over 13,000 miles in eleven months. This low annual mileage often leads to age-related degradation rather than mechanical wear on moving parts. The record confirms this with multiple advisories and failures showing perishing and cracking on the nearside front tyre between 2022 and 2023, as well as a deteriorated inner drive shaft boot and suspension ball joint dust cover. A buyer should focus on the condition of all rubber components and the integrity of the exhaust system. The presence of deteriorated CV boots and ball joint dust covers in the past indicates that materials are becoming dry and cracking due to age and low-frequency use. While no structural corrosion has been recorded in this history, the previous failure of the anti-roll bar linkage and suspension arm suggests the front suspension assembly is susceptible to wear. A physical inspection of the current state of the rubber boots is essential to ensure the new parts have not begun to split, which would lead to rapid joint failure.