Brake pads at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
6.4% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 586,592 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 6 to 9 years old (9.2%) and least common on vehicles 20 years old and over (3.2%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 212 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Volkswagen Taigo, the Volvo XC40 and the Nissan Elgrand. On the Volkswagen Taigo, 19.6% of failed tests had it, against 6.6% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
A brake pad or brake lining worn below 1.5mm.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm” as a dangerous defect, so the vehicle fails.
The manual also says: “An illuminated brake wear indicator is not a reason for failure.”
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen Taigo634 failed tests | 19.6%124 tests | 3.0×all: 6.6% |
| 2 | Volvo XC408,811 failed tests | 26.2%2,309 tests | 2.8×all: 9.3% |
| 3 | Nissan Elgrand1,879 failed tests | 11.0%206 tests | 2.6×all: 4.2% |
| 4 | Volvo S90905 failed tests | 25.1%227 tests | 2.5×all: 10.1% |
| 5 | Skoda Kamiq2,596 failed tests | 20.3%526 tests | 2.4×all: 8.4% |
| 6 | Honda FR-V2,269 failed tests | 10.0%227 tests | 2.3×all: 4.4% |
| 7 | Volkswagen T-Cross3,508 failed tests | 20.6%722 tests | 2.2×all: 9.5% |
| 8 | Skoda Scala1,309 failed tests | 19.7%258 tests | 2.1×all: 9.2% |
| 9 | Kia Optima1,647 failed tests | 19.4%320 tests | 2.0×all: 9.5% |
| 10 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross1,546 failed tests | 21.0%325 tests | 2.0×all: 10.5% |
| 11 | Nissan X-Trail26,279 failed tests | 13.8%3,637 tests | 2.0×all: 7.0% |
| 12 | Honda HR-V4,278 failed tests | 16.9%724 tests | 1.9×all: 8.7% |
| 13 | Honda Accord7,628 failed tests | 8.1%620 tests | 1.9×all: 4.2% |
| 14 | MG HS3,794 failed tests | 13.8%523 tests | 1.9×all: 7.2% |
| 15 | Hyundai i405,465 failed tests | 12.9%706 tests | 1.9×all: 6.9% |
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.
Models where it was at most half as common
| Car | Share of failed tests | All vehicles, same age |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Niro12,889 failed tests | ≤2.5%not in its top 10 | 8.7% |
| Tesla Model 313,522 failed tests | ≤2.7%not in its top 10 | 8.9% |
| BMW i33,412 failed tests | ≤2.7%not in its top 10 | 8.7% |
| Tesla Model Y5,417 failed tests | ≤2.1%not in its top 10 | 6.5% |
| Mercedes-Benz EQC2,010 failed tests | ≤2.5%not in its top 10 | 7.8% |
| Suzuki Ignis4,096 failed tests | ≤2.9%not in its top 10 | 8.9% |
| Audi e-tron1,780 failed tests | ≤2.8%not in its top 10 | 8.5% |
| Volkswagen ID.32,833 failed tests | ≤2.7%not in its top 10 | 7.9% |
| Jaguar I-Pace1,819 failed tests | ≤3.5%not in its top 10 | 9.3% |
| BMW M41,474 failed tests | ≤3.4%not in its top 10 | 8.9% |
≤ means at most: the defect wasn't one of the model's 10 most common, so we only know it had no more failed tests than the model's 10th most common defect, or fewer than 50. Models are listed by these figures against the same-age share, so this is not a ranking of the lowest.
How common it is by car age
- Under 3 years, first used 2023 to 20245.1% of failed tests, against 6.4% for all ages561 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20228.5% of failed tests, against 6.4% for all ages57,929 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20199.2% of failed tests, against 6.4% for all ages194,664 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20156.2% of failed tests, against 6.4% for all ages207,131 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20104.5% of failed tests, against 6.4% for all ages100,182 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20053.2% of failed tests, against 6.4% for all ages26,125 failed tests
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
- Parking brake efficiency3.9% of failed tests
- Binding brake2.6% 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.