Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Honda CR-V 2006: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2006 Honda CR-V include Linkage ball joints (rear) (~8.5× peers) and Pedal (~6.2× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (3,665 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

3,665 failed first-attempt tests · 7,920 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Linkage ball joints (rear) — about 8.5× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Linkage ball joints (rear): about 8.5× more often than similar cars
  • Pedal: about 6.2× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 3,665 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Linkage ball joints (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 8.5× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 197 failed first-attempt tests; 5.4% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 197 failures · ×8.5 vs similar cars · 5.4% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Pedal

This failure pattern appears about 6.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 100 failed first-attempt tests; 2.7% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 100 failures · ×6.2 vs similar cars · 2.7% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

# Fault pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Linkage ball joints (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
 Rear 197 ×8.5 5.4% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Pedal
Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal
 Any 100 ×6.2 2.7% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Ball joint dust cover (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint dust cover
 Front 228 ×2.3 6.2% Possible elevated fault
4 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
 Front 388 ×2.2 10.6% Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Wear patterns

These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.

# Pattern Location Failures vs similar cars Share of fails Confidence
1 Brake pads (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake linings and pads > Brake pads
 Rear 220 ×2.3 6.0% Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

# Advisory pattern Location Notes vs similar cars Share Confidence
1 Macpherson strut (rear)
Suspension > Macpherson strut > Macpherson strut
 Rear 28 ×12.3 0.8% Elevated vs peers
2 Linkage ball joints (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
 Rear 308 ×8.0 8.4% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Ball joint (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Ball joint
 Rear 60 ×7.9 1.6% Likely common fault pattern
4 Pedal
Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal
 Any 151 ×7.2 4.1% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5 Other towbar components
Body, chassis, structure > Towbar > Other towbar components
 Any 25 ×6.4 0.7% Elevated vs peers
6 Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Other suspension component > Ball joint
 Front 23 ×3.7 0.6% Likely common fault pattern
7 Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes
 Rear 69 ×3.0 1.9% Possible elevated fault
8 Pins and bushes (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
 Front 803 ×2.4 21.9% Possible elevated fault

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2006 Honda CR-V on this page. Among 3,665 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Linkage ball joints (rear) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 8.5× more often than peers; 197 observed failures; 5.4% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Linkage ball joints (rear) (about 8.5× more often than peers; 197 observed failures; 5.4% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Linkage ball joints (rear) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 8.5× more often than peers; 197 observed failures; 5.4% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2006 Honda CR-V include Linkage ball joints (rear), Pedal. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2006 Honda CR-V (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.
No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.
PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

  • MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
  • Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
  • Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
  • Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Most reliable Honda models

See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Honda (separate from this model-year report).