Part of the Honda CR-V Mk4 (2012–2018) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2017 Honda CR-V diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Honda CR-V first registered in 2017 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 20,223 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

20,223MOTs of 2017 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
86%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)
8,600typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for brake lights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Honda CR-V diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Honda CR-V diesel than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Brake lights2.1× usual
    Honda CR-V
    2.3% All 2017 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.9% of all 2017 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.

Common 2017 Honda CR-V diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Honda CR-V diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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
    16% 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
    9% 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
    6% 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
    5% 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.

Known faults on the 2017 Honda CR-V diesel

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 2017 Honda CR-V diesel

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

  1. Has the airbag recall been done?
  2. Has the fuel pump recall been done?
  3. Has the engine software update been done?
  4. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2017 Honda CR-V diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  5. 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%
201642,221Tyres 25%
201542,809Tyres 26%
201443,941Tyres 27%
201342,130Tyres 27%
201237,188Suspension 30%
201129,303Suspension 35%
201029,736Suspension 39%
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 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score