Used car guide

2012 Honda CR-V: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Honda CR-Vs, from 12,274 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

12,274MOT tests in 2025
74%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
7,500typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for individual direction indicators

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Honda CR-Vs than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Individual direction indicators2.5× usual
    Honda CR-V
    7.5% All 2012 cars
    3%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

  • Track rod end1.8× usual
    Honda CR-V
    9% All 2012 cars
    4.9%
    Rough price £80–£450

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

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.3× usual
    Honda CR-V
    7.2% All 2012 cars
    3.2%
    Rough price £50–£150

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.2× usual
    Honda CR-V
    6.4% All 2012 cars
    2.9%
    Rough price £80–£200

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

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints6.6× usual
    Honda CR-V
    3.3% All 2012 cars
    0.5%
    Rough price £50–£150

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Coil springs: 1.4% here, against 9.6% of all 2012 cars. Rigid brake pipes: 0.3% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Honda CR-V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    35% 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.

  • 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% 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
    21% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    6% 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
20225,032Tyres 16%
20215,384Tyres 17%
20205,499Tyres 17%
20198,298Tyres 19%
20189,252Tyres 24%
201711,858Tyres 25%
201614,110Tyres 25%
201514,238Tyres 26%
201414,636Tyres 27%
201313,912Tyres 28%
20119,527Suspension 40%
20109,598Suspension 44%
20098,808Suspension 54%
20089,322Suspension 55%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Honda CR-Vs registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score