Recorded in
0.4% 99% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 475,822 records across 1,136 models.
Brakes → Parking brake ineffective on one side
The Parking brake ineffective on one side MOT failure is recorded in 0.4% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 475,822 records across 1,136 models. A typical repair costs £60–£150. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Toyota MR2 records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
0%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£60–£150
Usually a garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Parking brake ineffective on one side means on an MOT
Parking brake ineffective on one side is an MOT inspection item in the brakes section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when parking brake ineffective on one side. Brakes are checked for the minimum material the manual requires and for even, effective operation, so a thin pad or a scored disc can fail the car. The failure is reported against that rule, so the page uses the tester's own wording.
How common is Parking brake ineffective on one side on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.4% of every MOT test in our data — 475,822 records across 1,136 models. That is 0% in every hundred tests, which puts Parking brake ineffective on one side in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 475,822 records for this item, 98.5% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 1.5% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified.
Other things testers write about this item
Testers do not all write the same thing. These are the exact DVSA strings from the records for this item, each with how many tests it was written on — the page's keyword vocabulary comes straight from them.
- Parking brake efficiency (trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles) efficiency below requirements — 275,635 records
- Parking (secondary brake performance) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel — 33,847 records
- Electronic parking brake control defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated — 22,187 records
- Electronic parking brake warning indicates a malfunction — 14,959 records
- Parking (secondary brake performance) on a single line braking system grabbing severely — 14,579 records
- Parking (secondary brake performance) on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel — 11,768 records
- Electronic parking brake control inoperative — 9,607 records
- Parking brake efficiency (trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles) efficiency less than 50% of the required value — 2,951 records
What does it cost to fix Parking brake ineffective on one side?
A typical repair on this item costs £60–£150 at UK prices, and it is usually a garage job. The bracket is our estimate from reported prices and parts, rather than a DVSA figure — see how it is built on the method page.
How the price brackets are built · full repair cost list · add it to your fail-sheet total.
Models that record Parking brake ineffective on one side most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Toyota MR2 and Vauxhall Vectra lead the list: Toyota MR2 records it on 4.7% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
| # | Model | Rate | Tests | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota MR2 | 4.7% | 24,989 | — |
| 2 | Vauxhall Vectra | 2.8% | 117,307 | — |
| 3 | Nissan Primastar | 2.8% | 37,947 | — |
| 4 | Hyundai Coupe | 2.7% | 23,404 | — |
| 5 | Hyundai IX20 | 2.3% | 102,232 | — |
| 6 | SsangYong Korando | 2.1% | 26,069 | — |
| 7 | Hyundai I30 | 2.1% | 388,487 | 5.3× · year by year → |
| 8 | Hyundai I800 | 2.1% | 29,941 | — |
| 9 | Vauxhall Astravan | 2.1% | 30,363 | — |
| 10 | Renault Master | 1.9% | 59,319 | — |
| 11 | Kia Picanto | 1.9% | 636,138 | 4.7× · year by year → |
| 12 | Chevrolet Captiva | 1.9% | 23,583 | — |
| 13 | Fiat Scudo | 1.8% | 32,202 | — |
| 14 | Volkswagen Bora | 1.7% | 20,051 | — |
| 15 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 1.7% | 731,991 | 4.3× · year by year → |
| 16 | Vauxhall Tigra | 1.6% | 26,978 | — |
| 17 | Vauxhall Antara | 1.6% | 79,960 | — |
| 18 | Hyundai IX35 | 1.6% | 195,456 | — |
| 19 | Mercedes-Benz Vito | 1.6% | 319,824 | 4.0× · year by year → |
| 20 | Ford Mustang | 1.6% | 38,107 | — |
Which years of car record Parking brake ineffective on one side
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.8% |
| 2011 | 0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.6% |
| 2013 | 0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.0% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2024, not year of test, so the curve mostly reflects age — a recent car has barely been to a test station. Compare models at the same age instead.
Frequently asked questions about Parking brake ineffective on one side
How common is Parking brake ineffective on one side on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.4% of all MOT tests — 475,822 records across 1,136 models.
Does Parking brake ineffective on one side fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
98.5% of the records for it are a fail, 1.5% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 0.0% are advisories. In short, it is a fail (Major or Dangerous) most of the time.
Which cars record Parking brake ineffective on one side most often?
Toyota MR2 and Vauxhall Vectra head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Toyota MR2 records it on 4.7%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Parking brake ineffective on one side?
Typically £60–£150 fitted, and it is usually a garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
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