MOT defects

Brakes: 183 MOT defect wordings

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 130,233,413 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

183 brakes defect wordings were recorded 47,666,085 times in 130,233,413 MOT tests from 2022 to 2025 ^[1].

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All brakes wordings

Every wording in this section, most recorded first. Per 100 MOT tests at all ages.
Wording	Recorded as	Per 100 MOT tests
Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	advisory	8.74
Brake pad(s) wearing thin	advisory	7.61
Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material	advisory	3.80
Brake disc worn, but not excessively	advisory	2.30
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick	fail	1.85
Service brake binding but not excessively	advisory	1.59
Parking brake efficiency below requirements	fail	1.14
Service brake excessively binding	fail	0.82
Flexible brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule	advisory	0.78
Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively	advisory	0.69
Brake pipe excessively corroded	fail	0.64
Brake disc significantly and obviously worn	fail	0.58
Parking brake inoperative on one side	fail	0.51
Service brake imbalance across an axle	fail	0.47
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault	fail	0.40
Flexible brake hose slightly deteriorated	advisory	0.36
Service brake excessively fluctuating	fail	0.30
Service brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair	advisory	0.30
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value	fail	0.29
Brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened	fail	0.25
Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair	advisory	0.21
Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment	fail	0.19
Service brake efficiency below requirements	fail	0.18
Brake pedal wearing smooth	advisory	0.17
Brake pad(s) worn down to wear indicator	fail	0.17
Hand lever has insufficient reserve travel	fail	0.12
Brake performance not tested unable to be tested	fail	0.12
Service brake lagging in operation	fail	0.094
Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system	fail	0.078
Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair	advisory	0.078
Brake fluid close to minimum mark	advisory	0.077
Flexible brake hose ferrule excessively corroded	fail	0.070
Service brake imbalance across an axle by more than 50%	fail	0.069
Flexible brake hose excessively deteriorated	fail	0.065
Brake cable damaged but not to excess	advisory	0.065
Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing	fail	0.062
Flexible brake hose slightly twisted	minor defect	0.054
Brake fluid reservoir fluid level below minimum level	minor defect	0.051
Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated	advisory	0.047
Hydraulic brake calliper leaking	fail	0.044
Brake performance not tested	fail	0.040
Parking brake on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel	fail	0.037
Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported	minor defect	0.037
Brake lining wearing thin	advisory	0.036
Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel	fail	0.036
Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel	fail	0.036
Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel	fail	0.035
Flexible brake hose excessively twisted	fail	0.033
Brake cable damaged	fail	0.028
Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated	minor defect	0.028
Flexible brake hose slightly damaged	minor defect	0.024
Brake pipe slightly damaged	advisory	0.022
Flexible brake hose slightly chafed	minor defect	0.020
Brake pipe at imminent risk of failure or fracture	fail	0.019
Parking brake on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel	fail	0.019
Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid	fail	0.019
Brake fluid contaminated	fail	0.019
Brake fluid significantly below minimum mark	fail	0.018
Service brake grabbing severely	fail	0.018
Brake pad(s) incorrectly mounted	fail	0.017
Brake cable insecure	fail	0.017
Flexible brake hose excessively damaged	fail	0.016
Electronic parking brake warning indicates a malfunction	fail	0.016
Service brake imbalanced across an axle	fail	0.016
Brake pipe connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system	fail	0.014
Flexible brake hose leaking on a hydraulic braking system	fail	0.014
Electronic braking system warning device indicates a fault	fail	0.013
Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value	fail	0.013
Flexible brake hose ferrule excessively corroded and likely to fail	fail	0.013
Service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair	advisory	0.013
Service brake grabbing slightly	advisory	0.013
Brake disc contaminated	fail	0.012
Brake drum worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	advisory	0.011
Parking brake lever defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated	fail	0.011
Parking brake lever pivot obviously worn	minor defect	0.011
Electronic parking brake defective but can be satisfactorily operated	advisory	0.010
Brake lining less than 1.5 mm thick	fail	0.010
Brake lever has abnormal movement of levers indicating excessive wear or maladjustment	fail	0.010
Flexible brake hose excessively chafed	fail	0.010
Flexible brake hose connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system	fail	0.010
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate	fail	0.010
Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism obviously worn	minor defect	0.010
Brake pipe excessively damaged	fail	0.010
Parking brake grabbing slightly	advisory	0.010
Electronic parking brake control defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated	fail	0.009
Electronic parking brake control inoperative	fail	0.009
Load sensing valve stiff	advisory	0.009
Brake pipe likely to become detached or damaged	fail	0.009
Brake cable has restricted free movement	fail	0.009
Brake lever has restricted free movement	fail	0.009
Brake pedal anti-slip provision worn smooth	fail	0.009
Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking and braking performance affected	fail	0.008
Flexible brake hose damaged and likely to fail	fail	0.008
Brake pad(s) contaminated	fail	0.008
Brake pipe leaking on an air braking system	fail	0.008
Hydraulic brake calliper insecurely mounted	fail	0.007
Load sensing valve linkage defective and function impaired	fail	0.007
Anti-lock braking system wiring damaged but not excessively	advisory	0.006
Brake fluid reservoir fluid level significantly below minimum level	fail	0.006
Parking brake lever inoperative	fail	0.006
Load sensing valve seized and ABS not fitted or inoperative	fail	0.006
Hydraulic brake calliper leaking and braking performance affected	fail	0.006
Master cylinder below minimum mark	minor defect	0.006
Parking brake lever ratchet not holding correctly	fail	0.005
Hydraulic brake calliper inadequately mounted	fail	0.005
Anti-lock braking system component excessively damaged	fail	0.005
Electronic stability control switch not functioning correctly	fail	0.005
Hand lever pivots slightly worn	advisory	0.005
Load sensing valve seized but ABS functioning	fail	0.005
Anti-lock braking system wiring excessively damaged	fail	0.005
Brake slack adjuster advise adjustment	advisory	0.005
Hydraulic brake calliper corroded but not seriously weakened	advisory	0.005
Full power hydraulic system malfunctioning or defective	minor defect	0.004
Brake servo defective or ineffective	fail	0.004
Anti-lock braking system component slightly damaged	advisory	0.004
Brake hydraulic valve leaking	fail	0.004
Brake drum worn, but not excessively	advisory	0.004
Steering component insecure	fail	0.004
Brake cable guide defective and affecting operation	fail	0.004
Brake fluid reservoir cap missing	fail	0.004
Air brake system leaking	fail	0.004
Brake pad(s) missing	fail	0.004
Hand lever not releasing correctly	minor defect	0.003
Parking brake on a single line braking system grabbing severely	fail	0.003
Hand lever pivot has excessive wear or free play	fail	0.003
Braking system component prescribed area is excessively corroded	fail	0.003
Steering component damaged, but the braking system is not adversely affected	advisory	0.003
Flexible brake hose bulging under pressure	fail	0.003
Flexible brake hose excessively stretched	fail	0.003
Hydraulic brake calliper slightly damaged but function not impaired	advisory	0.003
Brake fluid not visible	fail	0.003
Park brake mechanism/associated mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive	advisory	0.003
Hydraulic brake cylinder corroded but not seriously weakened	advisory	0.003
Brake drum back plate insecure	fail	0.003
Braking system component prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive	advisory	0.003
Brake linkage has restricted free movement	fail	0.002
Master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded	fail	0.002
Brake drum contaminated	fail	0.002
Parking brake lever is not capable of being maintained in operation by direct mechanical action only	fail	0.002
Anti-lock braking system wheel speed sensor excessively damaged	fail	0.002
Brake disc fractured	fail	0.002
Master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive	advisory	0.002
Brake pedal pivot has slight wear or free play	advisory	0.002
Servo defective or ineffective	fail	0.002
Brake pedal anti-slip provision loose	fail	0.002
Anti-lock braking system wheel speed sensor damaged but not excessively	advisory	0.002
Hand lever not releasing correctly and functionality of brakes affected	fail	0.002
Brake servo damaged but function not impaired	advisory	0.002
Steering component inadequately mounted	fail	0.002
Brake servo inoperative	fail	0.002
Brake pedal not releasing correctly and functionality of brakes affected	fail	0.002
Hydraulic brake calliper damaged and braking performance affected	fail	0.002
Brake fluid reservoir fluid not visible	fail	0.002
Air and vacuum systems malfunctioning or defective	minor defect	0.002
Hydraulic brake calliper damaged	fail	0.002
Brake lining incorrectly mounted	fail	0.001
Anti-lock braking system wheel speed sensor missing	fail	0.001
Brake hydraulic valve leaking such that brake functionality is affected	fail	0.001
Parking brake (secondary) brake grabbing slightly	advisory	0.001
Air brake system pressure/vacuum assistance close to minimum requirement	advisory	0.001
Load sensing valve linkage defective but function not impaired	advisory	0.001
Master cylinder leaking	fail	0.001
Brake lever pivot has restricted free movement	fail	0.001
Hydraulic brake calliper insecurely mounted and braking performance affected	fail	0.001
Load sensing valve inoperative and ABS not fitted or inoperative	fail	0.001
Brake fluid warning lamp defective	minor defect	0.001
Brake pipe connection leaking on an air braking system	fail	0.001
Flexible brake hose leaking on an air braking system	fail	0.001
Brake lever worn but not seriously weakened	advisory	0.001
Brake lining contaminated	fail	0.001
Hand lever pivot slightly tight	advisory	0.001
Brake pressure build up slow	advisory	0.001
Park brake mechanism/associated mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded	fail	0.001
Hydraulic brake cylinder excessively weakened by corrosion	fail	0.001
Brake pedal not releasing correctly	minor defect	0.001
Servo inoperative	fail	0.001
Master cylinder defective but brake still operating	fail	under 0.001
Load sensing valve inoperative but ABS functioning	fail	under 0.001
Brake pressure/vacuum build up too slow	fail	under 0.001
Hydraulic brake calliper inadequately mounted and braking performance affected	fail	under 0.001
Parking brake lever pivot worn to the extent that the brake may inadvertently release	fail	under 0.001
Braking system component repair covered in underseal	advisory	under 0.001
Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism worn to the extent that the brake may inadvertently release	fail	under 0.001

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Questions people ask

Which brakes defect do testers record most?

8.74 in 100 MOT tests record “Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened”, the most recorded wording in this section (130,233,413 MOT tests).

How many brakes wordings are fails?

124 of the 183 wordings here are fails (major or dangerous defects); the others are advisories and minor defects, which pass.

Which brakes advisory most often turns into a fail?

8.8% of rigid brake pipes advisories were followed by a fail on it at the next MOT, against 1.0% for cars the same ages without one.

Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 130,233,413 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Rates are per 100 MOT tests of class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) at each age. Model comparisons are against all class 4 vehicles of the same ages and fuel, pooled over 2022 to 2025 tests: they are not matched on test year or on mileage. Advisory figures count pairs of consecutive MOT tests of the same vehicle: "next MOT" means its next test 300 to 500 days (about 10 to 16 months) later, and the no-advisory comparison is standardised to the advised vehicles' age bands. Repairs between MOTs and breakdowns are not in this data. How we compare