2008 Honda Accord 2.2L Diesel · RF08 NMA

The 2008 Honda Accord remains roadworthy following its most recent MOT pass on 29 September 2025 at 141,287 miles, yet the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. After two consecutive clean passes in late 2022 and December 2023, the September 2025 test recorded three advisories, signalling a gradual decline in front-end suspension and underbody condition. The tester flagged corrosion on both nearside and offside outer sills within the rear suspension mounting prescribed areas, slight play in the nearside front upper suspension arm ball joint, and worn front lower suspension arm inner bushes on both sides. None of these were serious enough to fail the test, but the cluster of wear items at the same test is a notable shift from the defect-free results recorded between 2022 and 2023. The vehicle has covered roughly 7,849 miles per year across its eighteen-year life, which is typical for its age and suggests regular rather than light use. Mileage accumulation has slowed noticeably in recent years. Between the December 2023 test at 133,317 miles and the September 2025 test at 141,287 miles, just 7,970 miles were added over approximately twenty-one months, equating to around 4,600 miles per year. This drop in annual mileage may partly explain the emergence of corrosion-related advisories, as vehicles covering shorter distances are more prone to surface rust on underbody and suspension mounting points due to insufficient heat cycling and moisture evaporation. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front and rear suspension components specifically named in the advisories. The nearside front upper arm ball joint play and the worn lower arm inner bushes on both sides suggest the front end may need renewal of at least one complete arm assembly or a set of bushes and a ball joint in the near future. The outer sill corrosion at the rear suspension mounting areas warrants a close visual and physical check with a small inspection hammer to confirm the metal has not thinned beyond surface scaling, as prescribed area corrosion can escalate quickly on older Honda platforms. The December 2022 failure for an offside rear brake pad below 1.5 mm indicates rear braking components have needed attention before, so pad thickness and disc condition on the rear axle should be verified. Tyre condition and age should also be confirmed, given the reduced recent mileage and the likelihood of older rubber.