2007 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · AP57 HSA

A pattern of recurring wear across the front suspension, drivetrain seals and headlamp units defines the mechanical profile of this 2007 Honda CR-V. Across the six recorded MOT tests spanning 2021 to 2025, the nearside rear inner drive shaft CV boot has appeared as a minor defect in 2021, a minor in 2022, and escalated to a Major failure category in October 2024 when the boot was recorded as split and no longer preventing dirt ingress. Front suspension component wear is similarly persistent, with nearside front anti-roll bar linkage play, lower suspension ball joint play, and bilateral front suspension arm pin or bush wear all flagged across multiple consecutive tests. The most recent attempt on 17 October 2025 resulted in a fail due to incorrect offside headlamp beam aim, which was then rectified to achieve a pass the same day, although both headlamps were again noted as carrying a product on the lens. The accumulation of advisories and a Major defect within the last two test cycles suggests ongoing deterioration rather than a stabilising condition, despite the vehicle ultimately holding a current MOT. Recorded mileage of 211,052 miles over approximately 19 years equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 11,100 miles, which is broadly in line with typical usage for a vehicle of this age. Testing has occurred annually without significant gaps, with all six MOT events falling within a four-week window each October or November from 2021 onwards, indicating the vehicle has been in continuous use and not laid up for extended periods. The mileage pattern therefore points to regular rather than sporadic driving. Mechanically, sustained high-mileage use of this intensity accelerates wear on the very components flagged in the MOT record, particularly the front suspension bushes, ball joints, anti-roll bar linkages and the constant velocity joints on the drive shafts, all of which are subject to continuous loading during everyday road use. A prospective buyer should focus their physical inspection on the components repeatedly flagged in the advisory history. The nearside rear inner CV boot should be examined for fresh grease contamination around the joint and any clicking or vibration under load, particularly during tight turns, since the same boot has deteriorated progressively from severely deteriorated through to split over successive MOTs. Front suspension wear should be checked with the wheels jacked, paying particular attention to the anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, lower suspension ball joints and the suspension arm pins or bushes; any free play, knocking over uneven surfaces, or clonking under braking would warrant further investigation. The track rod end dust cover on the offside, noted as damaged on the most recent pass, should be inspected for tears that could allow dirt ingress and premature joint failure. On a test drive, listen for suspension knocking over speed humps and rough tarmac, feel for any vagueness or wander in the steering, and check for vibration or shudder that could indicate advancing CV joint wear. The headlamp issue is also worth addressing directly, as the lens product causing severely reduced light output in 2024 has apparently been partially restored, though not fully eliminated, by the 2025 test. Both lenses still carry a product film that has not yet returned to a failed state but represents a slow deterioration that will likely require restoration or replacement in the near term. An oil leak, recorded as an advisory in 2022 but not excessive at the time, should be re-evaluated by checking for fresh oil residue on the engine and undertray, as a leak left to develop over several years can affect surrounding components. Finally, the nearside rear shock absorber casing was noted as corroded in 2023, and although no further shock absorber advisories have appeared since, corrosion of this type progresses over time and warrants a visual check of the shock bodies plus boots for any surface rust advancement or dampness that would indicate seal failure.