2002 Honda CR-V 2.0L Petrol · LD52 XWN

With three recorded MOT failures over a five-year testing window and a pattern of advisory items touching the same components year after year, the roadworthiness picture for this 2002 Honda CR-V is mixed rather than settled. The most recent outcome, a pass on 8 March 2025, sits just a week after a 1 March 2025 failure on hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions at idle and on the second fast idle, alongside both headlamps being so heavily filmed over that light output was severely reduced. That sequence suggests the emissions and lighting issues were addressed between the two tests, but the underlying history is less reassuring: a 2021 dangerous defect for a nearside front brake disc worn metal-to-metal and a simultaneously binding nearside front service brake, a 2021 stop lamp and wiper failure, a 2020 pass with repair-as-recorded items for the nearside dipped headlamp and the rear stop lamps, and the same headlamp filming advisories recurring across 2021 and 2022 before turning into major defects in 2025. Oil leaks have also been flagged at both the 2021 and 2022 tests as not yet excessive, which means the underlying seal has not been confirmed repaired. Mileage on this vehicle stands at 282,014 against an age of roughly 24 years, which equates to around 11,750 miles per year, broadly average for a CR-V of this vintage. The recorded tests span 2020 through 2025, and while the annual mileage accumulation is not extreme, the absolute odometer reading means the engine, transmission, brake, suspension, and exhaust components have accumulated very high lifetime stress. Combined with the oil leak advisories and the emissions failure, the usage profile points to a vehicle whose wear-related components are well into the second half of their service life, and where periodic inspection of seals, catalysts, lambda sensors, and the complete exhaust train becomes essential rather than optional. For a prospective buyer, the priority components to physically inspect are the front brake system and the emissions hardware. The 2021 record shows a seriously weakened nearside front brake disc and a binding service brake, so both front discs should be measured for minimum thickness and checked for lip, and the caliper slide pins and pistons should be confirmed free rather than seized. On a test drive, listen for any rotational scraping or grinding from the front wheels, feel for the brake pedal pulling to one side under firm application, and check for the pedal returning smoothly rather than feeling reluctant to release. The 2025 emissions failure on hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide at idle and after the second fast idle typically implicates the catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, ignition coils, spark plugs, or vacuum/air leaks, so on a road test listen for misfires under load, flat spots during gentle acceleration, and any illumination of the engine management warning light. The headlamp issue is the most straightforward but should not be dismissed. Headlamp lens filming has appeared as an advisory in 2021 and 2022 and escalated to a major defect in 2025, which strongly implies the polycarbonate lenses have oxidised beyond what polishing will restore. Check both headlamp patterns at a wall for symmetry, brightness, and a sharp cut-off line, as severely degraded lenses will produce a diffuse, yellow beam even with new bulbs. The recurring oil leak advisories should be inspected by getting underneath the vehicle when warm to identify whether the seep is from the valve cover gasket, the sump, the cam chain area, or the rear main seal, and to confirm it has not worsened since 2022. Finally, verify operation of all stop lamps including the central high-level unit given the 2020 and 2021 stop lamp failures, and confirm both front wiper blades clear the screen fully, as the 2021 failure was specifically for ineffective clearing rather than simple ageing rubber.