What can lead to a vehicle failing an inspection?

A vehicle can fail an inspection for several significant safety and environmental reasons that are crucial for ensuring public safety. One of the primary concerns during a vehicle inspection is the functionality of the brakes. Malfunctioning brakes can dramatically increase the risk of accidents, as they are essential for stopping the vehicle effectively. Additionally, excessive exhaust emissions are an environmental concern, as they contribute to air pollution and can indicate that the vehicle's engine or emissions control systems are not functioning properly. Thus, these two factors – malfunctioning brakes and excessive emissions – are critical metrics for determining a vehicle's compliance with inspection standards.

In contrast, proper tire pressure is important for safe vehicle operation but does not inherently cause a failure during inspections unless it is drastically below recommended levels. Having a full tank of gas is typically unrelated to inspection failures, as it does not affect the vehicle’s compliance with safety or emissions criteria. The age of the vehicle, while it may have some influence on certain safety aspects, does not directly cause a failure in inspections unless there are specific standards tied to older vehicles that are not met. Therefore, the combination of malfunctioning brakes and excessive emissions represents clear violations of safety and environmental regulations, making it the correct reason for a vehicle to fail an inspection.