2012 Honda Civic 1.8L Petrol · RO62 EHT

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a shift toward deteriorating suspension rubberwork. While the car passed its tests in 2023 and 2024 without any defects, the most recent inspection in February 2026 at 107,881 miles revealed multiple failures in the front suspension. The tester identified deteriorated dust covers on the nearside track rod end and both lower suspension arm ball joints, indicating that components are reaching the end of their service life. The mileage pattern remains consistent with a 14-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 7,700 miles per year. Between February 2024 and February 2025, the car covered 6,676 miles, followed by another 4,276 miles in the year between the February 2025 test and the February 2026 test. This relatively low annual usage often leads to perishing of rubber components, as seen with the 2025 tyre advisory, because materials dry out over time regardless of the distance driven. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension to determine if the ball joint dust covers have allowed moisture or grit to enter the joints themselves. If the boots are torn, the entire control arms likely require replacement to prevent premature wear or mechanical failure. The 2025 failure regarding mismatched tyre sizes on the offside axle suggests a previous lack of attention to basic maintenance, so the current tyre set should be checked for matching specifications, uniform wear, and signs of sidew cracking.