2006 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · RF06 UDM

A pattern of repeated suspension and drivetrain wear dominates this CR-V's MOT record, with the offside rear anti-roll bar ball joint, nearside front inner drive shaft CV boot, and front suspension arm bushes and ball joint dust covers appearing with regularity across multiple tests. The 2025-05-13 pass is positive, but it sits immediately after a fail the previous day, where the offside rear anti-roll bar ball joint was marked as excessively worn and the nearside front inner CV boot was found to be split with no longer preventing ingress of dirt. The near front anti-roll bar ball joint was also noted as having slight play on the same test. Earlier, in 2024, the same nearside front inner CV boot was recorded as severely deteriorated, and in 2021 it was already flagged as split, indicating a component area that has been deteriorating for several years. Front suspension arm bushes showing perishing and cracking on both sides were advised in 2021 and 2022, with the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint dust cover noted as severely deteriorated in both 2021 and 2022. Two failures have been recorded across the five tests presented, both for items directly linked to this recurring wear theme, alongside an additional failure for incompatible headlamp light sources in 2023. Recorded mileage of 174,873 miles across approximately 20 years equates to around 8,700 miles per year, broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and consistent with regular commuter or family use rather than extended periods off the road. The mileage progression between tests is gradual and consistent, with no significant gaps in MOT testing that would suggest long-term storage, so wear patterns observed at test are likely representative of ongoing use rather than the effects of standing idle. Given this mileage, the high-wear items such as CV boots, suspension bushes, anti-roll bar joints, and tyres should be expected to require replacement on a vehicle of this age and accumulated use. For a prospective buyer, the most pressing areas to inspect are the front suspension and drivetrain. The nearside front inner CV boot has split on multiple occasions, so listen for clicking or knocking from the transmission area when turning at full lock, either stationary or at low speed, and check for fresh grease deposits around the inner boot and surrounding suspension components. The anti-roll bar ball joints and suspension arm bushes have been flagged several times, so on a test drive listen for clonks or knocks over speed bumps, uneven road surfaces, and during sharp direction changes, and feel for any vagueness or wandering in the steering. Visually inspect the offside rear anti-roll bar drop link and ball joint for perished bushes or excessive play by hand, and examine both front lower suspension arms for cracked or perished bushes and damaged ball joint dust covers, as these have been recorded as ongoing issues. The rear tyres have also been a repeated advisory item, showing wear close to the legal limit and edge wear on both sides, so inspect tread depth carefully across the full width and check for uneven shoulder wear which can indicate suspension geometry issues linked to the worn bushes. Additional checks should cover the headlamp assemblies, which have been flagged for defective reflectors and incompatible light sources on more than one occasion, and inspect both front units for moisture ingress, condensation, or non-standard replacement bulbs which may cause beam pattern issues. The 2024 test noted deteriorated headlamp lenses, and the 2023 fail was specifically about light source and lamp compatibility, so verify that any replacement headlamp units match the original specification. Inspect both rear tyres for cuts and cracking in the sidewalls as previously advised, and confirm the vehicle's tyre age and overall condition. Finally, given the mileage and age, a thorough inspection underneath the vehicle for any emerging corrosion on subframe, brake pipes, and suspension mounting points is advisable, particularly around the areas where bushes and joints have been repeatedly flagged, as worn suspension components can accelerate uneven loading on surrounding structure.