2005 Honda Jazz 1.3L Petrol · EF05 AAV

The most recent DVSA examination on 16 April 2026 resulted in a clean pass with no defects or advisories recorded, which is the most encouraging result in the available MOT history. However, the preceding four tests are not quite as reassuring. The 2025 test carried a minor windscreen damage note in zone B together with an advisory concerning offside rear brake pipe corrosion, and the 2024 test issued five advisories covering front tyre perishing on both sides, corrosion to front and rear offside brake pipes, and wear to the offside front Macpherson strut pin or bush. The 2023 cycle was particularly noteworthy as the vehicle initially failed on parking brake efficiency below requirements, with the same brake pipe and tyre advisories carried forward, before passing on the same day at presumably a retest after adjustment. Taken together, this represents a generally stable rather than deteriorating pattern, but a pattern in which several specific components have been flagged repeatedly and warrant close attention before purchase. The recorded mileage of 106,395 miles over approximately 21 years equates to an average of around 5,066 miles annually, which is considerably below typical usage for a privately owned supermini. This level of annual mileage suggests either a vehicle used predominantly for short urban journeys or one that has experienced extended periods of standing between uses. Mechanically, such low and irregular usage tends to be kinder to the engine internals and transmission in terms of wear, but it accelerates calendar-related degradation in items that suffer from lack of use. Brake discs and calipers corrode and bind from prolonged standing, exhaust systems corrode internally and externally from short journeys that never allow the system to fully heat and dry, 12V batteries sulphate and lose capacity when not regularly charged, and tyres sidewall perish regardless of tread depth when they age without rotation or use. The recurring front tyre perishing advisories already observed on this Jazz are entirely consistent with that profile. In terms of the recurring brake pipe corrosion advisories on the offside front and rear sections, this is a known age-related concern on early Honda Jazz models where the rigid brake lines run along the underbody and are subject to surface oxidation, often masked by underseal or grease as noted by the inspector. While the current advisories indicate the corrosion is presently within acceptable limits, brake pipe deterioration progresses steadily and a prospective buyer should arrange for the offside front to rear rigid line to be physically inspected on a ramp, paying particular attention to any pitting, flaking, or weeping joints. On a test drive, the buyer should listen for any sponginess or excessive travel in the brake pedal, and verify the handbrake holds firmly on an incline, given the prior failure for parking brake efficiency. Binding front calipers from standing should also be checked by confirming the car rolls freely when released at low speed and that the offside front wheel is not noticeably hotter than the others after a short drive. The recurring advisory on the offside front Macpherson strut pin or bush from the 2024 test should be re-evaluated at the current mileage, as worn strut top mount bearings and lower bushings tend to progress gradually with age rather than mileage. During a road test, the buyer should listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension when traversing speed humps, uneven surfaces, or during tight low-speed manoeuvres, and should feel for any vagueness or looseness through the steering. Additional age-appropriate checks should include the condition of the timing chain or belt depending on the engine variant fitted, as the original interval will have been exceeded several times over by now and full service history verification is essential. The 12V battery should be load tested regardless of its apparent cranking performance, brake fluid should be assessed for moisture content given its hygroscopic degradation over time, and coolant should be examined for condition and concentration. All tyres should be inspected closely for sidewall cracking beyond what was previously noted, the exhaust system should be checked for rattles and corrosion at the mounts and joints, and the underside should be examined comprehensively for any structural corrosion that might affect the long term integrity of this now twenty one year old vehicle.