Part of the Honda CR-V Mk3 (2007–2012) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2010 Honda CR-V petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Honda CR-V first registered in 2010 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 14,962 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

14,962MOTs of 2010 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
72%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 60%)
7,000typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for track rod ends

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2010 Honda CR-V petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2010 Honda CR-V petrol than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Track rod ends2.2× usual
    Honda CR-V
    10.8% All 2010 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 2.5% of all 2010 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.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.2× usual
    Honda CR-V
    7.8% All 2010 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 1.5% of all 2010 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.

  • Individual direction indicators2× usual
    Honda CR-V
    6.3% All 2010 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.9%, against 1.3% of all 2010 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.

  • Anti-roll bar bushes and joints5.2× usual
    Honda CR-V
    3.1% All 2010 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 2010 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    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.

  • Suspension arm1.6× usual
    Honda CR-V
    5.2% All 2010 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.4% of all 2010 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.

Better than most

Coil springs: 1.3% here, against 10.4% of all 2010 cars. Engine oil leaks: 1.7% here, against 8.8% of all 2010 cars.

Common 2010 Honda CR-V petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2010 Honda CR-V petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% 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
    26% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% 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 an engine warning light.

  • 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.

Known faults on the 2010 Honda CR-V petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2010 Honda CR-V petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2010 Honda CR-V petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint dust cover? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2010 Honda CR-V petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the 2010 Honda CR-V petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

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

Every year of the Honda CR-V compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023172Tyres 7%
20225,319Tyres 16%
202111,559Tyres 17%
202016,511Tyres 17%
201924,647Tyres 19%
201827,651Tyres 23%
201735,474Tyres 25%
201642,221Tyres 25%
201542,809Tyres 26%
201443,941Tyres 27%
201342,130Tyres 27%
201237,188Suspension 30%
201129,303Suspension 35%
200928,041Suspension 49%
200830,817Suspension 52%
200741,912Suspension 56%
200628,289Suspension 60%
200525,957Suspension 59%
200418,131Suspension 60%
200314,478Suspension 62%
20029,696Suspension 62%
20013,575Suspension 60%
20002,219Suspension 64%
19991,492Suspension 63%
19981,052Suspension 62%
1997297Suspension 63%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Honda CR-V cars first registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score