Used car guide

2016 Honda CR-V: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2016 Honda CR-Vs, from 14,110 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

14,110MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%)
7,800typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for stop lamp

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2016 Honda CR-Vs than on all cars registered in 2016.

  • Stop lamp1.7× usual
    Honda CR-V
    3.1% All 2016 cars
    1.8%
    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.

  • Ball joint dust cover1.7× usual
    Honda CR-V
    2.9% All 2016 cars
    1.7%
    Rough price £80–£200

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

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 0.5% here, against 6.1% of all 2016 cars. Shock absorbers: 0.8% here, against 4.3% of all 2016 cars.

By area

The share of 2016 Honda CR-V MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    18% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    11% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    11% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Honda CR-V?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20225,032Tyres 16%
20215,384Tyres 17%
20205,499Tyres 17%
20198,298Tyres 19%
20189,252Tyres 24%
201711,858Tyres 25%
201514,238Tyres 26%
201414,636Tyres 27%
201313,912Tyres 28%
201212,274Suspension 35%
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 2016 Honda CR-Vs registered in 2016. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score