Brake hose damaged or perished MOT advisory: what it means and which cars get it
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as an advisory on at least 0.2 in 100 initial MOT tests. The BMW 120 got it most often: recorded 6.9 times per 100 of its 45,188 tests.
DVSA wording: A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched.
What it means
A rubber brake hose, which lets each wheel move with the suspension and steering, is cracked, chafed, twisted or bulging. Old rubber perishes and can split.
How serious it is
A major defect, so a fail, when excessively damaged. Slight damage is a minor defect, and a hose likely to fail is dangerous.
Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 1.1.12.
- Dangerous FailA direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it's been repaired.
- Major FailIt may affect the vehicle's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.
- Minor PassNo significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. Repair as soon as possible.
- Advisory PassIt could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.
What fixing it usually involves
Replace the hose and bleed the brakes. Hoses are often changed in pairs.
A general guide, not a quote: ask a garage to inspect the car.
Which models get it most
Per 100 initial MOT tests on each model, among the 19 models with at least 20,000 tests where it is among the 40 most common items. DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail.
| Model | Tests | Advisory |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 120 | 45,188 | 6.9 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLK | 32,623 | 5.3 |
| BMW 118 | 143,381 | 3.0 |
| BMW 530 | 24,594 | 2.9 |
| BMW 116 | 111,034 | 2.5 |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 48,614 | 2.1 |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK | 59,720 | 2.0 |
| BMW Z4 | 35,739 | 2.0 |
| Volvo V70 | 45,316 | 1.9 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL | 22,122 | 1.9 |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carTurn the steering to full lock and look at the front hoses for cracks or bulges, and check they do not rub on the tyre or suspension.
- In the MOT historyIf this appears as an advisory, see whether it came back at the next test or turned into a failure, and ask the seller for the receipt if it was fixed.
Check a specific car
Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.
Questions
What does "Brake hose damaged or perished" mean on an MOT?
Brake hose damaged or perished: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "brake hose damaged or perished" on an MOT?
More brakes defects
How these figures are made. We counted the defects recorded at every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 in the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Each item counts once per test. A failure is a major or dangerous defect, including one fixed during the test. A model's rate is the share of its tests where the item was recorded.
For each model we keep its 40 most frequent items, so a model where a defect is rarer than that is not listed, and figures for all cars are a floor. Defect names and explanations are ours, checked against the MOT inspection manual; DVSA's own wording is shown under each name.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.