2010 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · Y33 PAP

A sixteen-year-old CR-V with 128,266 miles showing on the odometer presents a fairly typical roadworthiness picture for its age, with three of the last four annual tests recorded as advisories-free passes and only the most recent examination picking up a mixture of minor and advisory items. The 2026 test passed, but it flagged a severely deteriorated pair of front suspension arm ball joint dust covers on both sides, alongside advisories for a deteriorated front registration plate, a slightly discoloured offside rear direction indicator, and power steering fluid sitting close to its minimum mark. Earlier tests in 2022 and 2025 noted tyres that were worn close to the legal limit or perished at the rear, while the intervening 2023 and 2024 tests were completely clean. The pattern does not point to any single chronic fault, but rather to the ordinary accumulation of wear items you would expect on a vehicle that has covered significant mileage and is now entering the age range where rubber components and suspension joints begin to deteriorate. At roughly 8,000 miles per year averaged across its life, this CR-V falls into a broadly average usage bracket for a car of its vintage, neither conspicuously low nor unusually high. There are no gaps in the annual testing record across the four most recent cycles, suggesting the vehicle has been in continuous use rather than left standing for extended periods, which is generally favourable for avoiding the kind of seized calipers, perished hoses, and dried-out suspension bushes that plague cars laid up for years. Mileage progression between tests appears steady rather than erratic, indicating no obvious signs of clocked figures or major towing/heavy-duty use within the recorded history. The relatively consistent annual usage means consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and fluids will have been worked, but not necessarily to the extremes seen on high-mileage vehicles. For a prospective buyer, the most pressing item to scrutinise is the front suspension, specifically the ball joints and their dust covers flagged on the most recent test. When dust covers deteriorate severely, grit and moisture enter the joint, accelerating wear internally, so on a test drive listen for any clunking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for vagueness or rattling through the steering wheel on rougher tarmac. With the nearside front inner and outer joints both sides affected, a thorough inspection underneath for any play when the wheels are loaded is essential. Also pay attention to the condition of the front brake discs and pads, the condition of the track rod ends, and the steering rack itself, as the advisory for power steering fluid being close to minimum could indicate either a small leak or simply a top-up that has not been attended to for some time. Check for any dampness around the steering rack unions and pump on cold start, and listen for any whining or groaning from the pump when turning lock to lock. The tyre advisories from 2022 and 2025, particularly the perished and edge-worn items, point to a vehicle that may have been subject to uneven camber or alignment issues, or simply to replacement patterns where budget tyres were fitted and worn rapidly. On a road test, verify that the car tracks straight without steering pull, that there is no excessive vibration through the steering column at speed, and that the rear tyres in particular show even wear across their width rather than feathering or shoulder wear. Inspect the rear brake components closely, as CR-Vs of this generation are known for binding rear calipers which can cause uneven pad wear and pulling under braking. Finally, given the age, examine the exhaust system for corrosion at the joints and mounting rubbers, check the rear subframe mounting points for any surface rust, and confirm that all direction indicators, the registration plate, and the lighting cluster are in serviceable condition, as several minor lighting and plate advisories have accumulated over the recent record.