2005 Honda Jazz 1.3L Petrol · RN05 CFF

A clear pattern of brake-line and brake-hose corrosion defines the mechanical outlook of this 2005 Honda Jazz, with the most recent test on 2026-07-07 failing outright on a nearside front position lamp and on three brake-related majors: a nearside rear inner brake hose with an excessively corroded ferrule, an offside front brake hose ferrule in similar condition, and an offside front brake pipe excessively corroded into the brake flex hose. This escalation is consistent with the corrosion trail visible from 2023 onwards, when the front brake pipes were first noted as corroded on both sides into the flex hoses, followed in 2024 and 2025 by both front and nearside rear brake hose ferrules showing slight corrosion. The progression from advisory to failure within roughly three years on these brake components, combined with rear subframe and suspension mounting corrosion advisories dating back to 2023 and a corroded exhaust noted in the same period, indicates an older vehicle whose underfloor steelwork is steadily deteriorating. Two further points warrant attention: a brake pedal wearing smooth was flagged on three consecutive tests from 2025 through 2026, suggesting the friction surface has been polished through age rather than mileage, and a recurring nearside rear registration plate lamp failure has been logged as a minor defect at every test since 2023. Against an age of approximately twenty-one years, the recorded 77,846 miles equates to a modest annual average of around 3,700 miles, which is unusually low for the class and age. The MOT record itself spans 2021 to 2026 with no apparent testing gaps, the car having been presented annually around July, so the low annual accumulation reflects genuine light use rather than extended off-road periods. Mechanically, this low-mileage profile tends to mean the engine and transmission internals have seen limited wear, but it also brings the well-documented consequences of light use: brake discs and pads can suffer low-speed corrosion pitting, rubber components such as boots, bushes and seals can harden and crack through age rather than mileage, and exposed steelwork is more vulnerable to underfloor corrosion when short journeys prevent the chassis from drying out. The handbrake advisory in 2021 that the effort only just met the standard is consistent with brake components that have spent long periods under-used, while the front brake fluctuating advisory from the same test points to early signs of caliper or guide pin binding that has not been flagged since. For a prospective buyer, the priority is to establish the exact extent and remaining strength of the brake pipework and ferrules that have just failed, as a brake pipe corroding into the flex hose is a structural corrosion defect rather than a surface issue, and any further underfloor steelwork showing similar pitting should be inspected with the vehicle on a ramp. The rear subframe mounting corrosion noted in 2023 and 2024 at both axle mounts should be re-examined, as MOT advisory thresholds can move quickly from not considered excessive to excessive once perforation begins, and this directly affects structural integrity. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, which would indicate advanced subframe or axle mount corrosion, and feel for any sponginess, excessive travel, or pulling under braking that would suggest the new brake hoses have been fitted correctly and bled properly. A smooth or polished brake pedal, as flagged in three consecutive tests, can reduce pedal feel and make modulation harder, so confirm the pedal surface has been renewed or roughened. Secondary checks should focus on the suspension mountings that were noted as corroded at the rear axle in 2023, the exhaust system which was recorded as corroded at that same test and has not been re-examined since, and the nearside rear tyre which showed cracking between treads in 2024, as perished sidewalls on a low-mileage car are typical of age rather than wear and would warrant replacement. The recurring registration plate lamp issue is trivial in mechanical terms but worth resolving to avoid repeat minor defects. Finally, given the two MOT failures in 2024 and 2026 separated by a single pass in 2025, the overall trajectory points to an undercarriage that is on a deteriorating rather than stable path, and any prospective purchase should be conditional on a thorough inspection of the brake system, rear subframe, and exhaust from beneath the vehicle before committing.