Parking brake efficiency at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
3.9% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 360,895 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 20 years old and over (6.8%) and least common on vehicles under 3 years old (0.6%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 73 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the Ford Mustang, the Hyundai Ioniq and the Hyundai ix20. On the Ford Mustang, 22.0% of failed tests had it, against 1.8% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Parking brake efficiency below requirements”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
The parking brake (handbrake) is below the minimum efficiency on the brake test. Most vehicles need at least 16%.
The MOT inspection manual lists “Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Mustang1,481 failed tests | 22.0%326 tests | 12.1×all: 1.8% |
| 2 | Hyundai Ioniq6,700 failed tests | 6.1%408 tests | 5.2×all: 1.2% |
| 3 | Hyundai ix208,692 failed tests | 15.9%1,385 tests | 4.5×all: 3.6% |
| 4 | Ford EcoSport25,438 failed tests | 7.6%1,937 tests | 4.0×all: 1.9% |
| 5 | Fiat Auto Trail652 failed tests | 7.7%50 tests | 3.9×all: 2.0% |
| 6 | MG 36,120 failed tests | 6.6%401 tests | 3.5×all: 1.9% |
| 7 | Hyundai Tucson26,908 failed tests | 5.3%1,432 tests | 3.4×all: 1.6% |
| 8 | Hyundai i3035,708 failed tests | 13.2%4,727 tests | 3.4×all: 3.9% |
| 9 | Hyundai ix3517,960 failed tests | 12.7%2,272 tests | 3.2×all: 3.9% |
| 10 | Fiat 500L7,213 failed tests | 11.2%805 tests | 3.2×all: 3.5% |
| 11 | Volvo XC9017,694 failed tests | 12.5%2,207 tests | 3.1×all: 4.0% |
| 12 | Kia Picanto54,278 failed tests | 12.1%6,547 tests | 3.1×all: 3.9% |
| 13 | Kia Sportage67,812 failed tests | 7.3%4,922 tests | 2.8×all: 2.6% |
| 14 | Kia Carens3,564 failed tests | 7.5%267 tests | 2.7×all: 2.8% |
| 15 | Mitsubishi Asx7,271 failed tests | 8.4%610 tests | 2.5×all: 3.3% |
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
- Under 3 years, first used 2023 to 20240.6% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages64 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20220.8% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages5,641 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20191.9% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages39,417 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20153.9% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages129,802 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20105.9% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages130,488 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20056.8% of failed tests, against 3.9% for all ages55,483 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
- Brake pads6.4% 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.