Recorded in
1.0% 25% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 1,133,944 records across 1,794 models.
Brakes → Service brake fluctuating
The Service brake fluctuating MOT failure is recorded in 1.0% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 1,133,944 records across 1,794 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 Hyundai Getz records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
75%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£60–£150
Usually a garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Service brake fluctuating means on an MOT
Service brake fluctuating 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 service brake fluctuating. How serious it is — fail, minor or advisory — comes from the tester's grading in the DVSA record, not from this page.
How common is Service brake fluctuating on an MOT?
Recorded in 1.0% of every MOT test in our data — 1,133,944 records across 1,794 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Service brake fluctuating in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 1,133,944 records for this item, 24.9% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.1% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 75.0% are advisories that did not fail the car.
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.
- Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded — 5,078,147 records
- Service brake performance excessively binding — 2,716,316 records
- Flexible brake hoses ferrule excessively corroded — 1,090,431 records
- Service brake imbalance across an axle — 761,770 records
- Flexible brake hoses excessively deteriorated — 456,577 records
- Service brake performance efficiency below requirements — 151,800 records
- Service brake performance grabbing severely — 123,741 records
- Service brake performance lagging in operation — 89,239 records
- Service brake efficiency (trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles) imbalanced across an axle — 44,792 records
- Service brake imbalance across an axle by more than 50% — 40,317 records
What does it cost to fix Service brake fluctuating?
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 Service brake fluctuating most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Hyundai Getz and Audi A2 lead the list: Hyundai Getz records it on 3.4% 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 | Hyundai Getz | 3.4% | 76,810 | — |
| 2 | Audi A2 | 2.9% | 25,108 | — |
| 3 | Lexus IS200 | 2.8% | 20,777 | — |
| 4 | Volvo V50 | 2.6% | 120,069 | — |
| 5 | Nissan NV200 | 2.6% | 100,010 | 2.6× · year by year → |
| 6 | Volvo C30 | 2.6% | 88,275 | — |
| 7 | Volvo C70 | 2.6% | 29,334 | — |
| 8 | SsangYong Tivoli | 2.6% | 22,644 | — |
| 9 | Toyota Celica | 2.5% | 27,501 | — |
| 10 | Chevrolet Spark | 2.5% | 56,981 | — |
| 11 | Volvo S40 | 2.5% | 69,731 | 2.5× · year by year → |
| 12 | Mercedes-Benz Clk | 2.5% | 104,027 | 2.5× · year by year → |
| 13 | Mercedes-Benz Clc | 2.4% | 33,693 | — |
| 14 | Hyundai Coupe | 2.4% | 23,404 | — |
| 15 | Skoda Roomster | 2.3% | 69,027 | 2.3× · year by year → |
| 16 | Toyota Hi-Ace | 2.3% | 24,156 | — |
| 17 | Lexus IS250 | 2.2% | 33,197 | — |
| 18 | Saab 9-5 | 2.2% | 28,153 | — |
| 19 | Saab 9-3 | 2.2% | 137,430 | 2.2× · year by year → |
| 20 | Hyundai Amica | 2.1% | 22,089 | — |
Which years of car record Service brake fluctuating
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.4% |
| 2011 | 1.4% |
| 2012 | 1.3% |
| 2013 | 1.2% |
| 2014 | 1.1% |
| 2015 | 1.0% |
| 2016 | 0.9% |
| 2017 | 0.7% |
| 2018 | 0.6% |
| 2019 | 0.5% |
| 2020 | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 0.3% |
| 2023 | 0.2% |
| 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 Service brake fluctuating
How common is Service brake fluctuating on an MOT?
It is recorded in 1.0% of all MOT tests — 1,133,944 records across 1,794 models.
Does Service brake fluctuating fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
24.9% of the records for it are a fail, 0.1% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 75.0% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Service brake fluctuating most often?
Hyundai Getz and Audi A2 head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Hyundai Getz records it on 3.4%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Service brake fluctuating?
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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