2010 Honda CR-V 2.2L Diesel · YN60 JCZ

The defining mechanical concern surrounding this 2010 Honda CR-V is a deteriorating front suspension and the early onset of underbody corrosion. On 11 December 2025 the vehicle failed its MOT on two major defects: a non-functioning nearside front position lamp and, more significantly, a nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint recorded as excessively worn. The failure came on the same day a retest recorded only advisories, indicating that the position lamp and ball joint were addressed before the pass certificate was issued. One year earlier, on 21 November 2024, the nearside front position lamp had already been flagged as not working (recorded as aPRS item on a failure notice), and both front suspension arms were noted as corroded though not seriously weakened at that stage. The progression from corrosion advisories on both front arms in 2024 to an excessively worn ball joint failure in 2025 suggests the front suspension geometry is approaching a point where further component replacement is likely. The underbody corrosion advisory, first recorded in 2025, adds a longer-term structural concern that warrants close physical inspection, particularly around mounting points and load-bearing sections. Mileage accumulation on this CR-V has been steady and unremarkable. Recorded mileage stands at 125,852 miles across roughly sixteen years of registration, equating to an average of around 7,866 miles per year, a rate entirely consistent with mixed private and short-commute use. There are no multi-year gaps in the testing history that would suggest the vehicle was laid up or off the road for extended periods, and the MOT entries form a continuous annual sequence from 2020 through 2025. This consistent usage pattern means the mechanical wear recorded is a genuine reflection of regular road use rather than the drying-out, stiffening, and flat-spotting effects that often accompany prolonged standing. The intervening years show largely clean passes in 2020, 2021, and 2023, with only a single advisory on rear brake pad wear in 2022, indicating that the more serious suspension and corrosion findings are a relatively recent development rather than a long-standing pattern. A prospective buyer should treat the front suspension as the primary area of concern. The excessively worn lower arm ball joint flagged in December 2025 would typically have been rectified for the retest, but the surrounding arm corrosion noted a year earlier suggests the wider assembly is compromised. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, particularly under braking or when turning into a driveway. Feel for any vagueness, looseness, or judder through the steering wheel, and check for uneven front tyre wear, which is a common secondary symptom of worn ball joints and corroded arm assemblies. With the vehicle raised, the lower arms, subframe, and any brake pipe runs along the underbody should be inspected for advanced corrosion, paying particular attention to mounting bushes and the inner CV joint boots for splits. Given the underbody corrosion advisory, a thorough examination of the rear axle mounting areas, suspension linkages, and exhaust hangers is also advisable, as corrosion on a sixteen-year-old vehicle of this mileage can progress quickly once initiated. Finally, attention should be given to the electrical items that have appeared repeatedly. The nearside front position lamp failed in both 2024 and 2025, which may indicate an intermittent fault rather than a simple bulb failure; check that the lamp illuminates reliably on both main beam and sidelight settings, and inspect the connector and wiring for corrosion or poor contact. The rear direction indicator discolouration noted in 2024 and the partial failure of the offside rear position lamp are minor items, but together with the front lamp issue they suggest the lighting system has not been systematically refreshed. The rear brake pads flagged as wearing thin in 2022 should now be confirmed as having been replaced and bedding in correctly, with a test-drive check for any binding or pulling under braking that might suggest a sticking caliper. Overall, the mechanical priorities for inspection are the front suspension, underbody corrosion, and confirmation that all rectification work from the December 2025 failure has been carried out to a satisfactory standard.