2012 Honda Accord 2.2L Diesel · LB61 TUV

The 2012 Honda Accord passed its most recent MOT on 30 October 2025 at 179,749 miles, but the maintenance trend over the preceding three years shows a clear pattern of deterioration followed by reactive repair. The car failed on 24 October 2025 at 179,718 miles for a worn nearside front upper suspension ball joint and front brake pads below 1.5 mm, then passed six days later at the same recorded mileage, suggesting both items were replaced just before the retest. Prior to that failure, advisories on the October 2024 test flagged slight play in the same nearside front upper ball joint, meaning that joint was degrading for at least a year before it became a dangerous defect. The overall picture is one of a vehicle that has recently received catch-up work rather than consistent preventative upkeep. The mileage accumulation is notably uneven. Between October 2022 at 136,088 miles and October 2023 at 144,163 miles, the car covered 8,075 miles in twelve months. The following year to October 2024 at 162,541 miles saw a jump of 18,378 miles, and then from October 2024 to October 2025 the car added another 17,208 miles. That sharp increase from late 2023 onward points to sustained high-intensity use, likely motorway commuting or long-distance driving, which accelerates wear on suspension bushes, brake components, and drivetrain mounts. The near-identical mileage recorded at the October 2025 fail and pass tests, just 31 miles apart, confirms the car was driven minimally between those two events. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension, given the recurring ball joint wear on the nearside. Check both lower and upper arms for play and perished bushes, and examine the offside components which may now be approaching a similar service life. The front brake discs should be measured for thickness and scoring, as the pads were worn to the minimum just months ago, which suggests the discs may also be near or below specification. Rear brake condition was flagged as wearing thin in October 2023, so inspect pad thickness and disc condition on that axle as well. The DPF warning light recorded in October 2023 warrants a diagnostic scan to confirm the diesel particulate filter is functioning and that regeneration cycles are completing, particularly given the high motorway mileage which can mask underlying DPF issues. The misty headlamp lenses noted in the most recent pass are cosmetic and unlikely to cause a retest failure, but they do indicate the lenses have not been polished or replaced in years, which is consistent with the general pattern of deferred minor maintenance. The inoperative nearside rear registration plate lamp and the child seat preventing full seatbelt inspection are minor items, though the latter means a buyer should personally verify the adult belt retracts and locks correctly. Structurally, with nearly 180,000 miles on a 2012 chassis, a thorough underside inspection for corrosion, especially around suspension mounting points, subframes, and inner wing arches, is essential before purchase.