Used car guide

2004 Honda CR-V: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Honda CR-Vs, from 5,180 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,180MOT tests in 2025
50%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
6,500typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Honda CR-Vs than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Headlights2× usual
    Honda CR-V
    27.9% All 2004 cars
    13.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, against 4.7% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
    Honda CR-V
    23.5% All 2004 cars
    9.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2% of all 2004 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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.9× usual
    Honda CR-V
    15.4% All 2004 cars
    3.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.4% of all 2004 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 joint dust cover3.1× usual
    Honda CR-V
    15% All 2004 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.8% of all 2004 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.

  • Track rod ends2.3× usual
    Honda CR-V
    15% All 2004 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 2.9% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Flexible brake hoses: 1.1% here, against 5.7% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Honda CR-V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    62% 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
    50% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    39% 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.

  • Tyres
    32% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    15% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    14% 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.

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%
20034,026Suspension 64%
20022,678Suspension 64%
2001960Suspension 61%
2000578Suspension 65%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Honda CR-Vs registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score