2009 Honda Jazz 1.3L Petrol · WF09 SCZ

A clear and persistent concern in this 2009 Honda Jazz's MOT record centres on the rear braking system, which has produced the only advisory and the only failure across seven tests dating back to 2020. The 2020 test recorded rear brake pads wearing thin alongside scored inner brake disc faces, a 2021 test failed on an excessively binding nearside rear caliper combined with brake pads worn below the 1.5 mm minimum and an accompanying advisory for a pitted rear disc, and the 2022 test noted further pitting on the nearside rear disc. The three most recent tests in December 2023, December 2024 and December 2025 all passed with no defects recorded, indicating that whatever remedial work was carried out around the 2021 failure appears to have restored the rear brake assembly to a serviceable state at the time of inspection. The pattern is one of a single resolved mechanical event rather than a chronic, escalating defect. With 62,620 miles recorded over approximately seventeen years, the vehicle averages around 3,684 miles annually, which is notably low for a car of this age and points to either genuinely light usage or extended periods of inactivity. Such modest accumulation reduces wear on major drivetrain and suspension components but raises the typical concerns associated with low-mileage cars, particularly for items that degrade through age rather than use. The MOT record shows reasonably consistent annual testing from 2020 onwards with no multi-year gaps that would suggest a long standing period off the road, so the mileage figure should be taken as broadly representative of how the vehicle has been used. For a prospective buyer, the priority on inspection should be the rear braking system, since the history shows repeated reference to disc pitting and a caliper binding issue. On a test drive, listen for any dragging or grabbing sensation from the rear of the car, check that the vehicle rolls freely on a flat surface with the handbrake released, and feel for any pulling to one side under braking which could indicate a caliper still partially seizing. Inspect the rear discs visually for a pronounced lip at the outer edge, visible rust pitting, or blueing from overheating, and check the pad material through the caliper window or by removing the wheel to confirm adequate thickness remains. Beyond the documented brake history, the low annual mileage means that attention should also focus on age-related items not captured by the MOT but commonly affected by standing periods, including the condition of the rear brake flexible hoses, the handbrake mechanism, and the rear caliper slide pins which can corrode and seize if the car is used only intermittently. A thorough road test should include multiple firm brake applications from moderate speed to confirm consistent pedal feel without judder, and a reverse stop test to confirm the handbrake holds on an incline. Given that all advisories relate to the rear axle, a strip and clean of the rear calipers with renewed slide pin grease would be a sensible preventative measure irrespective of current condition, and any binding symptoms felt on the test drive should be treated as a clear basis for negotiation before purchase.