2003 Honda CR-V 2.0L Petrol · DA03 XHB

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance history reveals a worsening trend regarding deteriorating suspension components and reactive repairs. While the car passed its March 2026 test at 134,557 miles, this followed a failure just three days prior at 134,487 miles. That failure identified critical issues including an exhaust leak, split CV boot, and multiple ball joint dust cover failures, suggesting that the owner only addresses faults when necessitated by an MOT failure rather than following a preventative maintenance schedule. The mileage pattern is consistent with a low-use vehicle of its age, averaging approximately 5,850 miles per year. Between March 2025 and March 2026, the vehicle covered 8,063 miles, showing a slight recent increase in usage compared to the 4,554 miles recorded in the previous year. However, the low mileage often leads to the degradation of rubber components and dry seals, which is evidenced by the recurring reports of perished tyres and perished boots and covers across the last three testing cycles. A prospective buyer must focus on the front suspension and steering assembly, which have shown persistent issues. The tester repeatedly flagged worn ball joints, track rod ends, and anti-roll bar linkages between 2024 and 2026, indicating systemic wear in these areas. The recent failure of the nearside front CV boot is a point of concern as it allows contamination of the joint, potentially leading to rapid mechanical failure. Furthermore, the 2024 record noted corroded rear brake pipes hidden in grease, which requires a thorough under-body inspection to ensure the corrosion has not progressed to a point of structural thinning or fluid leakage.