Binding brake at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
2.6% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 239,606 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 20 years old and over (4.2%) and least common on vehicles 3 to 5 years old (0.5%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 27 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Toyota Aygo, the Citroen C1 and the SEAT Mii. On the Toyota Aygo, 10.0% of failed tests had it, against 2.7% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Service brake performance excessively binding”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
The brake tester records significant braking effort at a wheel when no brake is applied.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Aygo64,487 failed tests | 10.0%6,426 tests | 3.7×all: 2.7% |
| 2 | Citroen C150,317 failed tests | 10.6%5,352 tests | 3.7×all: 2.9% |
| 3 | SEAT Mii4,453 failed tests | 8.1%362 tests | 3.6×all: 2.2% |
| 4 | Chevrolet Spark5,802 failed tests | 10.8%628 tests | 3.6×all: 3.0% |
| 5 | Peugeot 10741,526 failed tests | 12.1%5,006 tests | 3.5×all: 3.4% |
| 6 | Peugeot 10814,421 failed tests | 6.2%896 tests | 3.5×all: 1.8% |
| 7 | Renault Captur38,914 failed tests | 5.9%2,290 tests | 3.4×all: 1.8% |
| 8 | Skoda Citigo11,430 failed tests | 7.0%805 tests | 3.3×all: 2.1% |
| 9 | Hyundai ix3517,960 failed tests | 8.8%1,576 tests | 3.1×all: 2.8% |
| 10 | Volkswagen Up26,493 failed tests | 6.8%1,790 tests | 3.1×all: 2.2% |
| 11 | Smart Fortwo13,538 failed tests | 8.4%1,139 tests | 2.9×all: 2.9% |
| 12 | Suzuki Splash6,499 failed tests | 8.7%565 tests | 2.7×all: 3.2% |
| 13 | Vauxhall Agila11,258 failed tests | 9.0%1,015 tests | 2.7×all: 3.4% |
| 14 | Suzuki Celerio4,653 failed tests | 4.1%193 tests | 2.5×all: 1.7% |
| 15 | Mazda MX-521,476 failed tests | 8.7%1,877 tests | 2.5×all: 3.5% |
Only models where this defect is one of their 10 most common MOT failures, with at least 50 failed tests, have a figure. So a model that isn't listed can still have it, just less often than its other faults. Vans, pick-ups and taxis are left out, as in our rankings. × is the model's share divided by the share for all vehicles of the same age.
How common it is by car age
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20220.5% of failed tests, against 2.6% for all ages3,653 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20191.2% of failed tests, against 2.6% for all ages26,218 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20152.8% of failed tests, against 2.6% for all ages92,896 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20103.8% of failed tests, against 2.6% for all ages82,790 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20054.2% of failed tests, against 2.6% for all ages34,015 failed tests
Not shown, with fewer than 50 failed tests with this defect: vehicles under 3 years old.
All-vehicle figures cover vehicles first used from 1985 to 2024: 9,185,328 of the 9,193,164 failed initial tests in 2025.
How these figures are counted
These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. A defect found on more than one wheel, lamp or joint at the same test counts once. "Same age" is the defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the model's own failed tests in each year.
An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. These figures show where a defect was recorded, not why, and not what a repair costs. Figures: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. What the MOT checks: MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, GOV.UK, read 1 Nov 2026.
How we choose and rank these defectsOther brakes faults
- Brake pads6.4% of failed tests
- Parking brake efficiency3.9% of failed tests
- Brake disc wear2.0% of failed tests
- Brake pipe corrosion1.9% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.