2006 Honda Jazz 1.3L Petrol · PF55 OFK

A twenty-year-old Honda Jazz carrying a substantial advisory and failure history is the defining mechanical takeaway from this DVSA record, with brake and suspension wear dominating the findings. The most recent test on 22 August 2025 returned a pass but was not without comment, recording a minor for an insecure offside registration plate lamp, a minor for a cracked interior mirror, and an advisory for a slight rear exhaust leak. The pattern across the five years of recorded testing is one of chronic front-end and rear brake deterioration, recurring suspension bush wear, and shock absorber oil loss. In 2022 the vehicle failed with dangerous front brake pads under 1.5 mm thick, a defective ABS warning lamp, and an offside rear shock absorber with a serious fluid leak. The following year produced another failure for excessively binding offside front service brake, an excessively corroded offside rear brake pipe, and a missing central rear seat belt. The remaining tests passed, but every single one carried advisories pointing to progressive component wear, indicating that while the car has consistently met the minimum pass standard, the underlying mechanical condition has been steadily declining. Against an age of roughly twenty years, the recorded 118,248 miles equates to approximately 5,912 miles per year, which sits well below the typical annual accumulation for a vehicle of this era. The mileage progression between tests appears broadly consistent with modest but regular use, though the volume of brake, suspension, and underbody corrosion advisories suggests the car has not been sheltered from road salt and wet weather exposure. The repeated brake binding entries, the brake pipe corrosion noted across multiple years, and the shock absorber oil misting followed by a serious leak are all consistent with a vehicle that has seen genuine road use rather than being stored long term, even if overall mileage is modest. The five test entries also show a complete annual record from 2021 through 2025 with no extended gaps, which confirms the vehicle has remained in continuous road use throughout the recorded period. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection on the underbody and braking system given the consistent advisory pattern. The offside rear brake pipe has been flagged as excessively corroded in 2023 and as still corroded in 2024 and 2025, so a thorough check underneath for live rust, flaking, or weeping at pipe joints and the offside rear brake hose is essential, and any sign of fresh fluid or active corrosion warrants immediate rectification. The nearside rear brake binding advisory in 2023 and the offside front binding major failure that same year suggest a sticking caliper, so on a test drive listen for any dragging sensation when releasing the accelerator, check for a wheel that runs hotter than its opposite, and watch for pulling to one side under braking. The offside rear shock absorber progressed from light oil misting in 2021 to a serious fluid leak by 2022, so inspect the shock body for fresh oil, and on the road feel for excessive bounce, clonking over uneven surfaces, or a nervous rear end on undulating tarmac. Suspension linkages deserve particular scrutiny, with the nearside front upper Macpherson strut pin or bush noted as worn in 2024, and inner suspension arm pins or bushes flagged on both sides across 2021 and 2023. On a test drive, these typically produce a knocking or clonking over speed bumps and a vague or wandering feel to the steering on uneven surfaces, so pay close attention to the front end over rougher roads. The 2024 advisories for nearside and offside front inner tyres worn close to the legal limit on the edge indicate a potential tracking or suspension geometry issue, and uneven inner edge wear on the current tyres should be checked. The 2025 advisory for a slight rear exhaust leak suggests the rear silencer or joint is ageing, and on a cold start listen for any ticking or hissing from beneath the rear of the car. Finally, verify the central rear seat belt that was missing in 2023 has been correctly refitted and latches firmly, as this is a safety-critical item.