MajorCommonSuspension

Honda CR-V: Front lower control-arm compliance bush cracking (clunk over bumps)

Front lower control-arm compliance bush cracking (clunk over bumps) is a common suspension fault on the Honda CR-V on the 2001–2006 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $250 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 59 documented faults on the Honda CR-V.

Vehicle: Honda CR-V
Years: 2001–2006
System: Suspension

This page covers the Honda CR-V as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda CR-V faults59 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Ball joint yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The front lower control arms use large rubber compliance (A-arm) bushings that are a known weak point on the second-generation CR-V. Minor surface cracking is normal, but the bush eventually cracks right through and separates, producing a clunk or knock over bumps, potholes and uneven surfaces, plus vague steering and a tendency to wander or pull. Because this is a wear item on a tough platform it usually shows up late in life / high mileage, and it is common on cars used on rough NZ back-roads. The lower ball joints often wear around the same time, and it is standard practice to inspect and renew ball joints, sway-bar links and tie-rod ends together with the bushes. Left unrepaired it causes uneven/accelerated front tyre wear and will fail a WoF.

What you would notice

Clunk or knock from the front over bumps and potholes
Vague or wandering steering, slight pull
Uneven or feathered front tyre wear

How to check it

Where to look. Front lower control arms (compliance/A-arm bushings) and lower ball joints

On a hoist, lever the front lower control arm and inspect the large compliance bushings for cracks right through the rubber or the bush having pulled away from its shell. Check lower ball joints for play at the same time and look for uneven front tyre wear as a tell-tale of long-standing bush/alignment issues.

Parts involved: Ball joint.

What it costs to put right

$250 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Is there any knocking or clunking from the front over bumps?”
“Have the front control-arm bushes or ball joints been replaced?”
“When was the last wheel alignment, and is front tyre wear even?”

Now check the Honda CR-V you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Honda CR-V Owners Club Forums - 'Front End Clunking Noise' thread (crvownersclub.com/threads/front-end-clunking-noise.217653/) noting compliance/A-arm bushings crack apart
Honda CR-V Owners Club Forums - 'knocking sound front passengers side' thread (crvownersclub.com/threads/knocking-sound-front-passengers-side.169185/)
RepairPal - CR-V control arm bushing replacement guidance recommending ball joint inspection at the same time

Honda CR-V buyer questions

Is front lower control-arm compliance bush cracking (clunk over bumps) serious on a Honda CR-V?

We rate it major and common on the Honda CR-V. The front lower control arms use large rubber compliance (A-arm) bushings that are a known weak point on the second-generation CR-V. Minor surface cracking is normal, but the bush eventually cracks right through and separates, producing a clunk or knock over bumps, potholes and uneven surfaces, plus vague steering and a tendency to wander or pull. Because this is a wear item on a tough platform it usually shows up late in life / high mileage, and it is common on cars used on rough NZ back-roads. The lower ball joints often wear around the same time, and it is standard practice to inspect and renew ball joints, sway-bar links and tie-rod ends together with the bushes. Left unrepaired it causes uneven/accelerated front tyre wear and will fail a WoF.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda CR-V?

$250 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda CR-V years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2001–2006 Honda CR-V. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.