What is the most common cause of brake failure?

The most common cause of brake system failure is issues with brake fluid, including insufficient fluid level, deterioration, or air trapped in the lines, which leads to inadequate hydraulic pressure and reduced braking efficiency. The second most common cause is excessive wear of brake pads or warping of brake rotors, which directly affects friction performance. Notably, long-term lack of maintenance resulting in contamination buildup in the master cylinder or brake lines can obstruct fluid flow. It is best to regularly inspect brake fluid condition (replace every 2 years or 40,000 kilometres), measure brake pad thickness (replace if below 3 millimeters), and monitor abnormal symptoms such as spongy brake pedal or increased pedal travel, as these often indicate early-stage malfunctions. In case of sudden brake failure while driving, remain calm, immediately activate hazard warning lights, downshift to utilize engine braking for deceleration, and progressively apply the parking brake to assist stopping, avoiding abrupt pulls that could cause wheel lock-up.