2004 Honda CR-V 2.0L Petrol · A27 MAC

A twenty-two-year-old Honda CR-V covering a high 207,542 miles has surfaced with an MOT pattern that is best characterised as a slow accumulation of corrosion and wear rather than any single catastrophic defect. The most recent test on 5 January 2026 resulted in a pass, but only after a same-day fail for a non-functioning nearside stop lamp, which was rectified and re-submitted. Across the 2024 and 2025 tests, the vehicle has picked up the same pair of headlamp lens advisories year on year, alongside outer sill corrosion on both rear suspension mounting areas flagged in 2024 and again in 2025. The 2026 test has layered further concerns on top of those existing advisories: an offside front-to-rear brake pipe that is corroded and coated in grease, nearside front lower suspension arm bushes showing wear, and an offside rear tyre noted as worn close to the legal limit with cracking. Taken together, the trajectory is one of progressive deterioration rather than stability, with the most recent advisory list the most extensive of the four recorded tests. Annual mileage on this CR-V works out at roughly 9,434 miles per year over its 22-year life, which sits broadly in line with typical UK usage for a vehicle of its age, though the absolute figure is high and the recorded test-to-test gaps indicate fairly continuous operation. The mileage accumulated between the January 2024 and January 2026 tests implies around 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year over that recent window, suggesting the vehicle has remained in active service rather than being laid up. For a high-mileage Honda of this generation, that usage pattern means consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and bushes will have been worked hard, and the increasing density of chassis and underbody corrosion advisories is consistent with a car that has covered plenty of wet, salted miles rather than a cherished low-mileage example. For a prospective buyer, the brake pipe advisory from January 2026 is the single item that warrants the closest physical inspection. The offside front-to-rear run was recorded as corroded and covered in grease or other material, and on a same-era CR-V this typically means surface rust has been temporarily masked. The pipe should be inspected from under the vehicle, paying particular attention to the underbody run near the fuel tank and rear axle, looking for pitting, flaking, or any pin-hole weeping. Brake pedal feel on a test drive should be firm and progressive; any sponginess or a pedal that travels further than expected suggests the system has been compromised or partially bled. Replacement of a corroded brake line on this platform involves bending and flaring new pipework, so a clear answer on the current state is essential before purchase. The suspension-related advisories deserve equal attention, particularly the nearside front lower arm front bush flagged as worn in 2026 and the recurring outer sill corrosion on both rear suspension mounting points. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces and speed humps, which would indicate the front bushes have loosened further since the advisory. The rear suspension should be tested by pushing down hard on each corner and releasing; excessive bouncing or any creak from the rear turrets would suggest the corroded mounting areas have progressed. The offside rear tyre cracking advisory also warrants close inspection of all four tyres for sidewall crazing, which on a 22-year-old vehicle can be a sign of age-related rubber degradation even on tyres with adequate tread. Finally, the propshaft flexible coupling noted as slightly deteriorated in 2025 should be checked for vibration through the cabin under acceleration, particularly around 40 to 50 mph, and the rear exhaust noted as having a minor leak in 2024 and 2025 should be inspected for any ticking under cold start that has since worsened.