2016 Honda Civic 1.6L Diesel · ND66 EWN

Chronic brake wear and a recent dangerous failure define the mechanical picture of this 2016 Honda Civic. The most recent test on 10 January 2025 recorded a pass but listed advisories for rear brake disc pitting, a slightly distorted nearside rear road wheel, and a damaged nearside non-obligatory mirror. Of far greater concern, the preceding day's test on 9 January 2025 was failed with two dangerous defects: front brake pads measured below 1.5 mm thick, and a nearside rear tyre with a structural bulge caused by ply separation. A fluctuating front service brake was also noted alongside the recurring rear disc pitting advisory. Looking back through the record, brake-related wear has been a consistent theme. The November 2023 test recorded advisories for both rear brake discs pitted and scored, front brake pads wearing thin, and an offside rear tyre with a screw in the tread, while an earlier September 2020 failure was solely for both windscreen wipers failing to clear the screen effectively. The overall trend points to repeated brake component deterioration across successive tests rather than a one-off incident. With 96,871 miles accumulated over roughly ten years, the vehicle has averaged around 9,687 miles per year, which is consistent with typical private use for its age. There is no evidence in the testing record of multi-year lay-ups or dramatic mileage spikes between tests; the gaps between recorded tests (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and the closely paired January 2025 entries) align with standard annual MOT scheduling for a continuously used vehicle. At this accumulated mileage, wear on consumable braking components, tyres, suspension bushes, and damper mounts is to be expected, and the advisories on file reflect that progression rather than any unusual usage pattern. A prospective buyer should focus the inspection on the braking system in particular. Given the repeated advisories for rear brake disc pitting and scoring across both 2023 and 2025, the discs should be measured for thickness and checked for lipping or corrosion ridges at the outer edge, and the calipers and rear brake pipes inspected for any signs of binding or corrosion that could explain accelerated pad wear. The front brake pads that fell below 1.5 mm on the January 2025 failure will have been replaced to clear the dangerous defect, so the condition and quality of those replacement pads should be verified, along with confirmation that the caliper slider pins have been serviced. The nearside rear tyre bulge noted as dangerous in the same test means a tyre had to be replaced immediately; any uneven shoulder wear or sidewall deformation on the remaining tyres should be examined carefully, and the spare wheel well and offside rear tyre (previously flagged as worn close to the legal limit) checked for age-related cracking. On a test drive, listen for any metallic scraping or squealing from the front brakes under light pedal application, which could indicate the new pads bedding in incorrectly against a lipped disc, and feel for any vibration or pulsation through the brake pedal under firm stopping that would suggest disc run-out. Pay attention to steering feel, particularly any pulling to one side over bumps, which could point to worn front suspension components given the vehicle's mileage. The nearside rear wheel recorded as slightly distorted in the latest test should be inspected for balance issues at speed, felt as a shimmy through the seat or steering wheel between 50 and 70 mph. Finally, the slightly defective nearside front headlamp lens from 2023 and offside reflector from 2022 are likely cosmetic only, but a general check of all exterior lighting and the condition of the wiper blades and linkage is worthwhile given the earlier dual wiper failure.