Here in Ontario Canada rust is also a safety inspection item. The corners near the tires would not be an issue in my view, however the rust on the running boards does look pretty bad. If the frame rails, subframe, and floors are still in good condition you still may be able to find someone to provide a safety, but the opinions you’ve gotten so far aren’t wrong. I had an older truck with rusty rockers which wouldn’t pass safety, your crv basically has rusty rockers.

If you want to diy you can just look under the covers and see if there are holes, they are easy to remove. Grind the rust away and if the metal is still strong-ish with only pinholes you may be able to just use body filler (bondo) on it, this is something you could do yourself as well. If you find the metal crumbles away with holes being bigger than 1x1 inch than you’ll have to cut and weld. This option is of course more expensive but shouldn’t break the bank if the problem isn’t too widespread.

Dishonest mechanics are everywhere, it’s good to be sceptical so maybe talk to a metal fabricator/welder instead and get their opinion. Hope you can keep your crv on the road and all the best in your search.

I just had my Honda CRV EXL RETAINED by the dealer . There was a recall for a rear end inspection . For safety reasons - they cannot release the vehicle and are buying it from my wife and I.

I purchased the CRV new and have always kept it clean and washed . Apparently the salt destroyed it but I firmly believe that it was a quality control issue .

Apparently the salt ate thru the rear of the car . So much money spent and I thought I was buying quality !!! Only 11 years old . Am beside myself .

Time for me to change manufacturers . NO REPEAT BUSINESS . “ Once bitten “ “ twice shy “

I also purchased a 2008 Accord EXL and I have severe rust going on - on the back left rear well . This occurred quite early after I purchased this car brand new also . Again I payed a large sum of money for this car too . I keep my car always clean and waxed . The rust really stands out and all my friends ask me why I don’t get it fixed . I just tell them that I am advertising for Honda . I want everyone to see ! I also have seen at least two similar year and models with the same rust in the exact same location . Funny - no recall as of yet . I am not upset at all . Too old and clever to get my blood pressure up . But again
“ NO REPEAT BUSINESS “ That’s only card I have to play . No business has ever survived serving a customer once !

Cheers

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That is too bad but your getting some money for it so better than junking it. If you bought a 2001 crv new the car is 18 years old by now, rust in an area that uses salt on the roads is not uncommon for that old of a vehicle of any make and even newer.

Sounds to me it was the rear subframe that fell apart, lots of first gen crv’s here have the same issue. It’s a part that doesn’t gets cleaned with regular washing unless you power wash the underside. I recommend doing that with any vehicle you own especially in the winter, either at home or at a pay-n-spray wash.

Hondas are known for rusting, I’ve seen it on all models, but I don’t let that stain my opinion. Rust is inevitable when there is salt, so when it starts get it taken car of right away.

Good luck in your hunt for a new vehicle, all the best.

Thanks for your thoughts and best wishes with respect to my issue . My CRV is 2008 year model so I was starting on my 12 th year . This CRV was well cared for and it floored me to find out the rear frame support rusted out . I still feel it is rediculous for the price of the vehicle and the reputation of the manufacturer . So let’s leave it at that . My wife wanted another CRV so here we go again . It goes against my principles totally .

Its going to eat away away at me knowing that Honda got away Scott free on this one ! So let me quote a revised saying different from “ once bitten , twice shy “ which I stated in an earlier post above .

Now on the revised saying goes like this ! “ Fool me once ! Shame on you ! “. “ Fool me twice , Shame on me ! “. I hope the latter doesn’t hold true .

Cheers !