2009 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · OV59 UME

Chronic front suspension bush wear is the defining mechanical theme of this 2009 Honda CR-V, having surfaced as advisory items at the two most recent MOT tests. On 2025-12-06 the vehicle passed, but examiners recorded worn rear bushes on both lower front suspension arms, a nail in the nearside front tyre, light corrosion on the rear anti-roll bar, and wear in the rear inner anti-roll bar bushes. The 2024-11-30 test followed a similar pattern with lower arm bushes flagged on both front sides, rear anti-roll bar bush wear, anti-roll bar corrosion, and the first appearance of subframe corrosion. With two clean passes during 2023, the trend clearly shifted into a period of progressive wear in 2024 and 2025, suggesting that the rubber and bushed components in the suspension are now entering a phase where replacement is likely to be required at the next assessment rather than remaining purely advisory. Recorded mileage of 156,389 miles across roughly seventeen years equates to an annual accumulation of around 9,200 miles, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and consistent with regular everyday use rather than long-term standing or extreme high-mileage work. There are no significant gaps in the testing record and mileage progression appears steady between tests, which indicates a continuously road-driven car rather than one left dormant for extended periods. Mechanically, this kind of consistent usage tends to produce steady wear in consumables such as brake components, tyres, and suspension linkages, and that pattern is exactly what the advisory history reflects, particularly with brake disc and pad wear noted in early 2022 and bushed suspension items flagged more recently. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas for inspection are the front suspension arms and their rear bushes, as these have been flagged on both sides across two consecutive tests. On a road test, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over uneven surfaces, particularly over speed humps and potholes, and feel for any vagueness or shimble in the steering response that would suggest the bushes have moved beyond advisory tolerance. With the vehicle raised, the lower arm rear bushes should be physically checked for cracking, separation, or excessive play using a pry bar, as rubber of this age often deteriorates faster than the recorded advisories suggest. The rear anti-roll bar and its drop links should also be examined for free movement in the bushes and for any worsening of the corrosion already noted. The subframe corrosion advisory from late 2024 warrants close scrutiny even though it was deemed not seriously weakened at the time, as subframes on older CR-Vs are known to progress from surface corrosion to structural concern if protective coatings break down. On inspection, the subframe and mounting points should be examined with a torch for any bubbling, flaking, or deep pitting that could indicate the condition has moved beyond cosmetic. Brake components, last flagged with worn front discs and thinning pads in 2022, should be checked for pedal feel, any judder under heavy braking, and the condition of the discs and pads visually through the wheels, as four years of use since that advisory will almost certainly have consumed further material. Finally, a thorough check underneath for any oil misting or weeping from the engine and transmission, alongside a general listen for differential or transmission noise on the road, would round off a sensible evaluation of this high-mileage but consistently driven example.