2016 Honda Civic 1.6L Diesel · RJ16 XNB

The 2016 Honda Civic presents a currently roadworthy status, having passed its most recent MOT on 23 January 2026 at 123,117 miles with zero defects recorded. The maintenance trend over the past three years is broadly stable, though not without notable lapses. A clean pass in January 2025 at 109,948 miles was preceded by a failure just days earlier for a missing offside rear wheel fixing at 109,686 miles, suggesting a pre-test rectification rather than a chronic issue. The January 2026 pass also followed a same-day failure for worn offside front brake pads below 1.5 mm, again indicating a repair immediately before the successful retest. These paired failure-and-pass entries point to a pattern of reactive maintenance rather than proactive servicing, where defects are addressed only when an MOT deadline forces the issue. The mileage accumulation tells its own story. Between the January 2024 test at 98,851 miles and the January 2025 test at 109,948 miles, the car covered 11,097 miles in twelve months. From January 2025 to January 2026, it added a further 13,169 miles, bringing the annual average to roughly 12,312 miles per year over the full ten-year life. This is elevated for a vehicle of this age and points to sustained high-speed or long-distance use, which accelerates wear on consumable components including brake pads, tyres, suspension bushes, and drivetrain mounts. The gap between the 2024 and 2025 tests is a full twelve months with no interim mileage anomalies, but the jump from 109,686 miles on 16 January 2025 to 109,948 miles on 22 January 2025, just six days later, confirms the failed test occurred mid-cycle and was resolved before the pass. A buyer inspecting this Civic in person should focus on the front braking system, given the repeated appearance of worn pads in the January 2026 failure. Check the condition of the offside front caliper for binding, which is a common cause of asymmetric pad wear on this generation Civic. Examine all four road wheel fixings and hub areas for signs of cross-threading or damage, referencing the 2025 failure for a missing offside rear fixing. The January 2024 advisory regarding a cut nearside front tyre worn to 3 mm on the edge warrants a close inspection of the current tyre set, particularly for uneven wear patterns that could indicate tracking or suspension geometry issues. At 123,117 miles, the front suspension lower arms, drop links, and anti-roll bar bushes should be checked for play, along with the exhaust system for corrosion given the mileage and age. The absence of any advisories in the most recent pass is encouraging, but the reactive maintenance pattern suggests a thorough independent inspection is prudent before purchase.