Recorded in
0.7% 56% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 761,770 records across 1,535 models.
Brakes → Service brake imbalance across an axle
The Service brake imbalance across an axle MOT failure is recorded in 0.7% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 761,770 records across 1,535 models. A typical repair costs £45–£110. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Chevrolet Matiz records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
44%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£45–£110
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Service brake imbalance across an axle means on an MOT
Service brake imbalance across an axle 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 imbalance across an axle. 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 imbalance across an axle on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.7% of every MOT test in our data — 761,770 records across 1,535 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Service brake imbalance across an axle in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 761,770 records for this item, 56.0% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 0.1% were put right at the test and recorded as rectified and 43.9% 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.
- Service brake performance excessively binding — 2,716,316 records
- Service brake performance excessively fluctuating — 1,133,944 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
- Service brake performance effort inadequate at a wheel — 32,399 records
- Service brake performance has no recorded effort at a wheel — 19,531 records
- Service brake efficiency (trikes, quads and pre-68 vehicles) efficiency below requirements — 15,473 records
What does it cost to fix Service brake imbalance across an axle?
A typical repair on this item costs £45–£110 at UK prices, and it is usually a DIY or independent-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 imbalance across an axle most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Chevrolet Matiz and Chevrolet Spark lead the list: Chevrolet Matiz records it on 5.1% 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 | Chevrolet Matiz | 5.1% | 40,193 | — |
| 2 | Chevrolet Spark | 4.0% | 56,981 | — |
| 3 | Audi A2 | 3.5% | 25,108 | — |
| 4 | Hyundai Coupe | 3.5% | 23,404 | — |
| 5 | Suzuki Jimny | 3.5% | 81,784 | 4.9× · year by year → |
| 6 | Volkswagen Lupo | 3.1% | 21,292 | — |
| 7 | Suzuki Wagon-R+ | 3.1% | 29,904 | — |
| 8 | Toyota Celica | 3.0% | 27,501 | — |
| 9 | Chevrolet Aveo | 3.0% | 35,342 | — |
| 10 | Hyundai Amica | 3.0% | 22,089 | — |
| 11 | Nissan NV200 | 2.5% | 100,010 | 3.6× · year by year → |
| 12 | Peugeot 206 | 2.3% | 175,269 | 3.3× · year by year → |
| 13 | Vauxhall Tigra | 2.2% | 26,978 | — |
| 14 | Toyota Hilux | 2.1% | 232,560 | 3.0× · year by year → |
| 15 | Citroen Xsara | 2.0% | 106,340 | 2.9× · year by year → |
| 16 | Fiat Scudo | 2.0% | 32,202 | — |
| 17 | Volkswagen Fox | 1.9% | 104,121 | — |
| 18 | Vauxhall Astravan | 1.9% | 30,363 | — |
| 19 | Citroen C2 | 1.8% | 43,091 | — |
| 20 | Hyundai Getz | 1.8% | 76,810 | — |
Which years of car record Service brake imbalance across an axle
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.1% |
| 2011 | 0.9% |
| 2012 | 0.8% |
| 2013 | 0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.6% |
| 2015 | 0.5% |
| 2016 | 0.4% |
| 2017 | 0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.1% |
| 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 Service brake imbalance across an axle
How common is Service brake imbalance across an axle on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.7% of all MOT tests — 761,770 records across 1,535 models.
Does Service brake imbalance across an axle fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
56.0% of the records for it are a fail, 0.1% were fixed at the test, 0.0% are minor and 43.9% are advisories. In short, it is a fail (Major or Dangerous) most of the time.
Which cars record Service brake imbalance across an axle most often?
Chevrolet Matiz and Chevrolet Spark head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Chevrolet Matiz records it on 5.1%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Service brake imbalance across an axle?
Typically £45–£110 fitted, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
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