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Headlight lens slightly defective MOT minor defect: what it means and which cars get it

In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as a minor defect on at least 0.5 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Honda Accord got it most often: recorded 5.7 times per 100 of its 30,345 tests.

DVSA wording: Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective.

Minor defects
0.5 in 100
At least 157,419 tests in 2023
Most often
Honda Accord
5.7 per 100 tests

What it means

A headlight lens or reflector is slightly damaged, crazed or cloudy. Plastic lenses yellow and haze with age.

How serious it is

A minor defect, which passes. A seriously defective or missing lens or reflector is a major defect.

Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 4.1.1.

  1. Major Fail
    It may affect the vehicle's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.
  2. Minor Pass
    No significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. Repair as soon as possible.

What fixing it usually involves

Polishing can clear a hazy lens; cracked or water-filled units need replacing.

A general guide, not a quote: ask a garage to inspect the car.

Which models get it most

Per 100 initial MOT tests on each model, among the 61 models with at least 20,000 tests where it is among the 40 most common items. DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail.

ModelTestsMinor
Honda Accord30,345
5.7
Peugeot 30739,404
4.5
Volkswagen Fox28,542
4.3
Ford Fusion58,809
3.9
Vauxhall Vectra39,116
3.8
Hyundai Getz23,077
3.8
Toyota Corolla106,579
3.6
Suzuki Grand Vitara24,508
3.6
Mercedes-Benz CLK32,623
3.6
Citroen Xsara35,042
3.2

What to check at a viewing

  1. On the car
    Look at the headlight lenses for cracks, haze and condensation inside.
  2. In the MOT history
    If this appears in past results, ask what was done and when, and for the receipt.

Check a specific car

Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.

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Questions

What does "Headlight lens slightly defective" mean on an MOT?
A headlight lens or reflector is slightly damaged, crazed or cloudy. Plastic lenses yellow and haze with age.
Headlight lens slightly defective: is it an MOT fail?
A minor defect, which passes. A seriously defective or missing lens or reflector is a major defect.
Which cars are most likely to get "headlight lens slightly defective" on an MOT?
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, the models that got it most often were the Honda Accord (5.7 per 100 tests), the Peugeot 307 (4.5 per 100 tests), the Volkswagen Fox (4.3 per 100 tests).

More lights defects

See every MOT defect we explain or MOT pass rates by model.

Side or tail light not workingBrake light not workingHeadlight not workingHeadlight lens slightly defectiveHeadlight aim outNumber plate light not workingIndicator discoloured or wrong colourSide repeater not workingRear fog light not working

How these figures are made. We counted the defects recorded at every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 in the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Each item counts once per test. A failure is a major or dangerous defect, including one fixed during the test. A model's rate is the share of its tests where the item was recorded.

For each model we keep its 40 most frequent items, so a model where a defect is rarer than that is not listed, and figures for all cars are a floor. Defect names and explanations are ours, checked against the MOT inspection manual; DVSA's own wording is shown under each name.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.