Brake pads worn thin 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 7.5 in 100 and as a failure on at least 1.7 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Nissan X-Trail got it most often: recorded 18.4 times per 100 of its 95,116 tests.
DVSA wording: A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm.
What it means
The friction material on a brake pad or shoe is wearing out. As an advisory it usually reads "Brake pad(s) wearing thin": they still work but will need replacing soon, often within months.
How serious it is
A pad worn below 1.5mm is a dangerous defect, so a fail and the car should not be driven until it is fixed. A pad worn down to its wear indicator is a major defect.
Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 1.1.13.
- 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.
- Advisory PassIt could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.
What fixing it usually involves
New pads on both wheels of the axle, and new discs if they are worn too. One of the most common and least complicated brake jobs.
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 231 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 | Fail | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan X-Trail | 95,116 | 4.0 | 14.4 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 557,917 | 3.5 | 13.9 |
| Hyundai ix35 | 53,223 | 3.4 | 13.0 |
| Nissan Pulsar | 21,422 | 3.0 | 13.1 |
| Volvo XC40 | 38,880 | 3.2 | 12.6 |
| Hyundai i40 | 22,400 | 4.0 | 11.8 |
| Kia Sportage | 256,061 | 3.0 | 12.7 |
| Peugeot 5008 | 29,307 | 3.4 | 12.3 |
| Volvo XC60 | 91,418 | 3.0 | 12.6 |
| Mitsubishi ASX | 29,788 | 2.7 | 12.8 |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carLook through the wheel at the pad against the disc, and watch the dashboard for a pad wear warning light. A grinding or squealing noise under braking can mean metal on metal.
- 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 pads worn thin" mean on an MOT?
Brake pads worn thin: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "brake pads worn thin" 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.