2008 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · FT08 AAU

Chronic underbody corrosion is the defining mechanical theme of this eighteen year old Honda CR-V, having been flagged as an advisory at three consecutive MOT tests through 2024, 2025, and the most recent examination on 3 April 2026 where it passed. Beyond this persistent rust observation, the front suspension ball joint dust covers have been a repeat source of attention, with the nearside front item first noted as severely deteriorated in April 2023, repeating on the opposite side at the same test, and remaining a flagged Minor at the April 2024 inspection alongside a deteriorating track rod end dust cover. A significant failure was recorded on 13 April 2023, driven by a dangerously exposed tyre ply on the nearside rear, together with two Major advisories for anti-roll bar ball joint dust covers that had failed to prevent dirt ingress. That failure was addressed within thirteen days and the vehicle has passed every test since, though the trajectory shows gradual component degradation in the suspension and drivetrain rather than outright deterioration of test outcomes. With 157,787 miles recorded against an eighteen year span, this CR-V has averaged roughly 8,766 miles per year, a figure that sits comfortably within the typical range for its age and suggests reasonably consistent use rather than long dormant periods. There are no extended gaps in the MOT testing sequence that would indicate the vehicle was laid up for multi-year stretches, and the steady annual accumulation implies that wear items such as suspension bushes, brake discs and pads, clutch friction material, and drive shaft components have been subjected to normal in-service fatigue rather than the accelerated wear associated with very high annual mileage or the dry-joint and seal degradation that often follows prolonged standing. The 2024 advisory for prop shaft bearing play is consistent with the mileage level and the kind of driveline slack that develops gradually on a high-mileage Honda of this generation. A prospective buyer should examine the underbody with a torch and ideally a ramp or lift, paying particular attention to the rear subframe mounting points, the front suspension lower arms, the brake pipes running along the chassis, and any structural seams where the advisory corrosion has been repeatedly noted. Light surface scale is expected on a vehicle of this age and mileage, but any flaking that lifts to the touch, perforation of box sections, or bubbling around load-bearing brackets warrants careful scrutiny and a professional opinion, as MOT advisories only describe what is visible without lifting panels or stripping components. The underside should also be checked for oil residue around the engine sump, the automatic transmission casing if so equipped, and the rear differential, as the drivetrain seals on a high-mileage CR-V commonly begin to mist at this stage. On a road test, listen for clonks or dull thuds from the front suspension over broken tarmac, particularly from the lower ball joint areas where dust cover deterioration has been recurrent, and feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering as the track rod end dust covers have similarly been flagged. A whine or slight rotational grinding that changes with throttle load, particularly when reversing, would warrant investigation of the rear propshaft bearing noted as having play in 2024. Inspect all four tyres for uneven shoulder wear, as both front tyres were at the legal limit in 2023 and the nearside rear had reached the cords, suggesting either an alignment issue, worn suspension bushes allowing geometry shift, or simply front-heavy wear on a high-mileage vehicle. Finally, check that the offside rear tyre noted close to the limit in March 2025 was replaced, and confirm the constant velocity boot condition on the offside front inner drive shaft, which was flagged as severely deteriorated in 2024.