Brake pipe corrosion at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
1.9% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 172,521 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 20 years old and over (5.0%) and least common on vehicles 3 to 5 years old (0.0%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 38 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Suzuki Baleno, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and the Ford Tourneo. On the Suzuki Baleno, 8.6% of failed tests had it, against 0.7% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
A rigid (metal) brake pipe that is damaged or excessively corroded. Corrosion or damage that reduces the pipe's wall thickness by a third justifies a fail.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Baleno1,738 failed tests | 8.6%150 tests | 12.9×all: 0.7% |
| 2 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross1,546 failed tests | 3.4%52 tests | 9.3×all: 0.4% |
| 3 | Ford Tourneo3,642 failed tests | 7.1%260 tests | 9.0×all: 0.8% |
| 4 | Suzuki Celerio4,653 failed tests | 6.6%308 tests | 8.1×all: 0.8% |
| 5 | Chevrolet Spark5,802 failed tests | 13.0%757 tests | 6.7×all: 2.0% |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Asx7,271 failed tests | 7.9%572 tests | 6.0×all: 1.3% |
| 7 | Suzuki Alto14,890 failed tests | 8.9%1,322 tests | 5.0×all: 1.8% |
| 8 | Nissan Pixo3,746 failed tests | 9.6%360 tests | 4.4×all: 2.2% |
| 9 | Nissan Pulsar6,101 failed tests | 4.1%250 tests | 4.4×all: 0.9% |
| 10 | Suzuki SX411,143 failed tests | 7.2%806 tests | 4.0×all: 1.8% |
| 11 | Mercedes-Benz CLS4,504 failed tests | 7.4%335 tests | 3.9×all: 1.9% |
| 12 | Suzuki Swift37,241 failed tests | 7.2%2,682 tests | 3.9×all: 1.9% |
| 13 | Suzuki Splash6,499 failed tests | 7.6%497 tests | 3.7×all: 2.0% |
| 14 | Land Rover Range Rover Sport23,917 failed tests | 5.7%1,374 tests | 3.4×all: 1.7% |
| 15 | Hyundai i405,465 failed tests | 4.4%241 tests | 3.4×all: 1.3% |
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 2022<0.1% of failed tests, against 1.9% for all ages205 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20190.6% of failed tests, against 1.9% for all ages13,390 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20151.6% of failed tests, against 1.9% for all ages53,420 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20102.9% of failed tests, against 1.9% for all ages64,817 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20055.0% of failed tests, against 1.9% for all ages40,689 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
- Binding brake2.6% of failed tests
- Brake disc wear2.0% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.