2012 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · SD62 HHP

A clean sheet of MOT passes over the most recent four consecutive tests gives this 2012 Honda CR-V an outwardly reassuring roadworthiness profile, with no advisories raised and no failures since November 2022. That earlier failure is worth noting however, as it centred on two specific items: both rear direction indicators were showing white light rather than the required amber, and the offside front lower anti-roll bar linkage ball joint had a perished dust cover allowing dirt ingress. A failed test on the same day also carried a pass, which is the standard DVSA outcome when a vehicle is presented for a retest after rectification; the fact that the indicators and anti-roll bar linkage passed on the retest suggests the corrective work was completed to specification. The longer view of the record shows the rear indicator and suspension linkage issues were isolated events rather than a recurring pattern, while the brake disc and tyre advisories from 2021 and the front brake pad advisory from 2019 appear to be one-off wear notes that did not develop into further flags. Recorded mileage of 47,983 miles across 14 years equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 3,427 miles, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age and type. Such restrained usage is consistent with a second car, limited commuter use, or a vehicle that has spent extended periods off the road. Mechanically, low mileage on a CR-V of this vintage tends to preserve the engine, transmission and major internal components from the wear that higher-mileage examples exhibit, but it also places greater emphasis on the condition of items that deteriorate with age rather than use, particularly rubber components, brake discs, and underbody corrosion protection. The mileage has progressed steadily between tests with no gaps suggesting a long lay-up, and there is no recorded spike that would indicate clock anomaly concerns. That said, the relatively gentle annual mileage means the brakes, tyres and suspension have all been lightly loaded, which aligns with the modest advisory history on discs and pads. With the anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover specifically flagged in 2022, this is a component worth careful inspection on a test drive. Listen for a dull knocking or clunking from the front end when traversing speed humps, potholes, or uneven urban surfaces, and pay particular attention to any looseness or vibration through the steering wheel over rough roads. A perished boot on a ball joint allows contamination of the joint itself, and once grit penetrates the bearing surface the wear accelerates internally even though the visible rubber may have been replaced. On a hoist inspection, the offside front lower anti-roll bar link should be manually checked for free play by hand, and the condition of the opposing nearside link noted as a comparison point. Because the failure was two test cycles ago, the replacement component has since accumulated only modest mileage and should still be serviceable, but the surrounding bushes and the anti-roll bar itself merit a close look. The 2021 advisories on the offside front brake disc and both front tyres indicate those items were approaching the limits of their useful life at that point and have likely been renewed since. On a test drive, any pulsation through the brake pedal under firm application, or a steering wheel vibration when braking from higher speeds, would suggest the discs have worn unevenly or developed run-out since the last test. Brake pedal feel should be firm and progressive without sponginess, and the vehicle should pull up in a straight line without deviation. The rear tyre cracking and perishing advisory from the same test is worth bearing in mind, as aged rubber on a lightly used vehicle can deteriorate through sidewall flexing and UV exposure even with tread remaining; check the production date stamps on all four tyres and inspect the sidewalls for hairline cracking, particularly on the rear pair. Finally, given the low overall mileage, a thorough inspection of the underbody for corrosion, a check for any oil misting around the engine and a verification of coolant condition would be prudent, as these age-related rather than mileage-related concerns are often the deciding factor on a CR-V of this vintage.