Which of the following would cause a vehicle to fail an inspection of the brakes?

A brake inspection is critical for ensuring a vehicle's safety and performance. In this context, the brake pedal height not holding for one minute is significant because it indicates a potential leak or failure in the braking system, which directly affects the effectiveness of the brakes. Maintaining the proper height of the brake pedal is essential for driver control and stopping power.

If the brake pedal sinks or doesn't hold its position, it suggests that there might be air in the brake lines or a problem with the master cylinder. This would clearly undermine the reliability of the braking system, putting the vehicle and others on the road at risk, therefore leading to a failure in the brake inspection.

The other options, while related to vehicle safety, do not directly address the fundamental operation of the brake system in the same way. For instance, while heavy brake levers may indicate an adjustment issue or require additional effort to engage, this doesn't necessarily compromise the braking system's function as critically as a failing pedal height would. Similarly, malfunctioning brake lights are important for signaling to other drivers but do not directly affect the physical ability of the brakes to stop the vehicle. Excessive tire wear can affect traction and overall vehicle handling, but it is separate from the brake system's inspection. Thus, ensuring the