2007 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · FX07 KXM

Suspension wear is the defining theme in this Honda CR-V's test history, with anti-roll bar linkage ball joints flagged on both sides of the vehicle across separate years. In December 2019 the nearside front linkage ball joint was found excessively worn, and in November 2022 the offside rear linkage ball joint was deemed likely to become detached, a dangerous defect, alongside a nearside front tyre with tread below 1.6mm and exposed ply or cords. A failed position lamp also caused a failure in November 2021. In each case the vehicle was repaired and passed a retest within days, and the three most recent annual tests, including the pass on 8 December 2023, were recorded with no defects or advisories at all. The overall trend is therefore one of isolated wear-related failures followed by clean passes, rather than a worsening pattern, though the recurring linkage failures on a vehicle of this age merit attention. At 150,943 miles over roughly 19 years, the car has averaged around 7,944 miles per year, a typical accumulation rate for its age with no significant gaps in the test record. This steady, moderate use is consistent with the type of wear seen: suspension joints and tyres are consumables that degrade with both mileage and time, and nothing in the record suggests extended periods off the road or unusually heavy use. The absence of any corrosion-related failures or advisories across eight recorded tests is notable for a vehicle approaching two decades old, though MOT records alone cannot confirm the condition of areas not flagged. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection area is the front and rear anti-roll bar linkages and their ball joints, given failures on both sides. On a test drive, listen for knocking or rattling from the suspension over uneven surfaces and speed bumps, which typically indicates worn linkages or bushes, and check for any looseness or vagueness through the steering. Given the 2022 dangerous tyre defect, inspect all four tyres carefully for adequate tread depth across the full width, uneven wear patterns that could suggest alignment or suspension issues, and any sidewall damage or cracking consistent with age. It is also worth confirming that the repairs following each failure were carried out to a satisfactory standard, ideally with invoices showing replacement parts rather than temporary fixes. The clean December 2023 pass is encouraging, but with no test recorded since, the next MOT due around December 2024 will be the first real indication of whether the suspension work has held up. A pre-purchase inspection focusing on the suspension, steering joints, and underbody condition would be a sensible precaution before committing.