Section 1
Brakes
Condition, operation, performance, and parking brake checks.
140
defect codes in this section
32 Dangerous95 Major13 Minor
1.1 Condition and operation
1.1.1.aService brake pedal or hand lever pivotCondition and operationMajor1.1.1.bService brake pedal or hand lever pivotCondition and operationMajor1.1.2.aService brake pedal or hand lever condition and travelCondition and operationMajor1.1.2.b.iService brake pedal or hand lever condition and travelCondition and operationMinor1.1.2.b.iiService brake pedal or hand lever condition and travelCondition and operationMajor1.1.2.cService brake pedal or hand lever condition and travelCondition and operationMajor1.1.3.a.iAir and vacuum systemsCondition and operationMajor1.1.3.a.iiAir and vacuum systemsCondition and operationDangerous1.1.3.bAir and vacuum systemsCondition and operationMajor1.1.3.cAir and vacuum systemsCondition and operationMajor1.1.3.dAir and vacuum systemsCondition and operationMajor1.1.3.eAir and vacuum systemsCondition and operationMajor1.1.4.a.iLow-pressure warningCondition and operationMinor1.1.4.a.iiLow-pressure warningCondition and operationMajor1.1.5.aHand operated brake control valveCondition and operationMajor1.1.5.bHand operated brake control valveCondition and operationMajor1.1.5.cHand operated brake control valveCondition and operationMajor1.1.5.dHand operated brake control valveCondition and operationMajor1.1.6.aParking brake lever or controlCondition and operationMajor1.1.6.b.iParking brake lever or controlCondition and operationMinor1.1.6.b.iiParking brake lever or controlCondition and operationMajor1.1.6.cParking brake lever or controlCondition and operationMajor1.1.6.dParking brake lever or controlCondition and operationMajor1.1.6.eParking brake lever or controlCondition and operationMajor1.1.6.fParking brake lever or controlCondition and operationMajor1.1.7.a.iBrake valvesCondition and operationMajor1.1.7.a.iiBrake valvesCondition and operationDangerous1.1.7.bBrake valvesCondition and operationMinor1.1.7.cBrake valvesCondition and operationMajor1.1.7.d.iBrake valvesCondition and operationMajor1.1.7.d.iiBrake valvesCondition and operationDangerous1.1.9.a.iPressure storage reservoirsCondition and operationMinor1.1.9.a.iiPressure storage reservoirsCondition and operationMajor1.1.9.b.iPressure storage reservoirsCondition and operationMinor1.1.9.b.iiPressure storage reservoirsCondition and operationMajor1.1.9.cPressure storage reservoirsCondition and operationMajor1.1.10.a.iBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMajor1.1.10.a.iiBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationDangerous1.1.10.b.iBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMajor1.1.10.b.iiBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationDangerous1.1.10.cBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMajor1.1.10.d.iBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMinor1.1.10.d.iiBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMajor1.1.10.d.iiiBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationDangerous1.1.10.eBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMajor1.1.10.fBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMinor1.1.10.gBrake servo units and master cylinder (hydraulic systems)Condition and operationMinor1.1.11.aRigid brake pipesCondition and operationDangerous1.1.11.b.iRigid brake pipesCondition and operationMajor1.1.11.b.iiRigid brake pipesCondition and operationDangerous1.1.11.cRigid brake pipesCondition and operationMajor1.1.11.d.iRigid brake pipesCondition and operationMinor1.1.11.d.iiRigid brake pipesCondition and operationMajor1.1.12.aFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationDangerous1.1.12.b.iFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationMinor1.1.12.b.iiFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationMajor1.1.12.c.iFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationMajor1.1.12.c.iiFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationDangerous1.1.12.dFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationMajor1.1.12.eFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationMajor1.1.12.f.iFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationMajor1.1.12.f.iiFlexible brake hosesCondition and operationDangerous1.1.13.a.iBrake linings and padsCondition and operationMajor1.1.13.a.iiBrake linings and padsCondition and operationDangerous1.1.13.bBrake linings and padsCondition and operationMajor1.1.13.cBrake linings and padsCondition and operationDangerous1.1.14.a.iBrake discs and drumsCondition and operationMajor1.1.14.a.iiBrake discs and drumsCondition and operationDangerous1.1.14.bBrake discs and drumsCondition and operationMajor1.1.14.cBrake discs and drumsCondition and operationDangerous1.1.14.dBrake discs and drumsCondition and operationMajor1.1.15.aBrake cables, rods, levers and linkagesCondition and operationMajor1.1.15.bBrake cables, rods, levers and linkagesCondition and operationMajor1.1.15.cBrake cables, rods, levers and linkagesCondition and operationMajor1.1.15.dBrake cables, rods, levers and linkagesCondition and operationMajor1.1.15.eBrake cables, rods, levers and linkagesCondition and operationMajor1.1.15.fBrake cables, rods, levers and linkagesCondition and operationMajor1.1.16.a.iBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationMajor1.1.16.a.iiBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationDangerous1.1.16.b.iBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationMajor1.1.16.b.iiBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationDangerous1.1.16.c.iBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationMajor1.1.16.c.iiBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationDangerous1.1.16.d.iBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationMajor1.1.16.d.iiBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationDangerous1.1.16.e.iBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationMajor1.1.16.e.iiBrake actuators - including spring brakes, hydraulic cylinders and callipersCondition and operationDangerous1.1.17.aLoad sensing valveCondition and operationMajor1.1.17.bLoad sensing valveCondition and operationMajor1.1.17.c.iLoad sensing valveCondition and operationMajor1.1.17.c.iiLoad sensing valveCondition and operationDangerous1.1.17.dLoad sensing valveCondition and operationDangerous1.1.18.aBrake slack adjusterCondition and operationMajor1.1.18.bBrake slack adjusterCondition and operationMajor1.1.18.cBrake slack adjusterCondition and operationMajor1.1.19.a.iAdditional braking device (retarder), if fittedCondition and operationMinor1.1.19.a.iiAdditional braking device (retarder), if fittedCondition and operationMajor1.1.19.bAdditional braking device (retarder), if fittedCondition and operationMajor1.1.21.a.iComplete braking systemCondition and operationMajor1.1.21.a.iiComplete braking systemCondition and operationDangerous1.1.21.b.iComplete braking systemCondition and operationMinor1.1.21.b.iiComplete braking systemCondition and operationMajor1.1.21.cComplete braking systemCondition and operationMajor1.1.21.d.iComplete braking systemCondition and operationMajor1.1.21.d.iiComplete braking systemCondition and operationDangerous1.1.21.e.iComplete braking systemCondition and operationMajor1.1.21.e.iiComplete braking systemCondition and operationDangerous1.1.21.fComplete braking systemCondition and operationMajor
1.2 Service brake performance and efficiency
1.2.1.a.iPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.1.a.iiPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyDangerous1.2.1.b.iPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.1.b.iiPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyDangerous1.2.1.cPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.1.dPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.1.ePerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.1.fPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.1.gPerformanceService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.2.a.iEfficiencyService brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.2.2.a.iiEfficiencyService brake performance and efficiencyDangerous
1.3 Secondary brake performance and efficiency
1.3.1.a.iPerformanceSecondary brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.3.1.a.iiPerformanceSecondary brake performance and efficiencyDangerous1.3.1.b.iPerformanceSecondary brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.3.1.b.iiPerformanceSecondary brake performance and efficiencyDangerous1.3.1.cPerformanceSecondary brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.3.2.a.iEfficiencySecondary brake performance and efficiencyMajor1.3.2.a.iiEfficiencySecondary brake performance and efficiencyDangerous
1.4 Parking brake performance and efficiency
1.5 Additional braking device (retarder) performance
1.6 Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
1.6.aAnti-lock braking system (ABS)Anti-lock braking system (ABS)Major1.6.bAnti-lock braking system (ABS)Anti-lock braking system (ABS)Major1.6.cAnti-lock braking system (ABS)Anti-lock braking system (ABS)Major1.6.dAnti-lock braking system (ABS)Anti-lock braking system (ABS)Major1.6.eAnti-lock braking system (ABS)Anti-lock braking system (ABS)Major1.6.fAnti-lock braking system (ABS)Anti-lock braking system (ABS)Major
1.7 Electronic braking system (EBS)
1.8 Brake fluid
motfailcode.uk maps DVSA MOT defect codes to plain-English meanings. Defect severity classifications follow the DVSA MOT Inspection Manual current as of 12 May 2026. Codes and severities are updated annually (typically May). Always confirm with a qualified MOT tester or vehicle technician for your specific vehicle. This site is not affiliated with DVSA or HM Government.
See our methodology for how we extract and verify each code, and sources for the full citation manifest.