Used car guide

2001 Honda CR-V: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2001 Honda CR-Vs, from 960 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

960MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 61%)
5,000typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2001 Honda CR-Vs than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.6× usual
    Honda CR-V
    19.3% All 2001 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.5% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Ball joint dust cover3.3× usual
    Honda CR-V
    12.4% All 2001 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 1.3% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Ball joint2.4× usual
    Honda CR-V
    14.1% All 2001 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 2.2% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.5× usual
    Honda CR-V
    9.2% All 2001 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.8% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Brake lights2× usual
    Honda CR-V
    9.7% All 2001 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7%, against 4% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Braking performance: 2.4% here, against 7.4% of all 2001 cars. Flexible brake hoses: 2.8% here, against 6% of all 2001 cars.

By area

The share of 2001 Honda CR-V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    61% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    38% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    29% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    24% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Honda CR-V?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20225,158Tyres 16%
20215,799Tyres 17%
20205,546Tyres 17%
20198,298Tyres 19%
20189,252Tyres 24%
201711,858Tyres 25%
201614,110Tyres 25%
201514,238Tyres 26%
201414,636Tyres 27%
201313,912Tyres 28%
201212,275Suspension 35%
20119,527Suspension 40%
20109,598Suspension 44%
20098,808Suspension 54%
20089,323Suspension 55%
200712,378Suspension 59%
20068,315Suspension 62%
20057,369Suspension 62%
20045,180Suspension 62%
20034,026Suspension 64%
20022,678Suspension 64%
2000578Suspension 65%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2001 Honda CR-Vs registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score