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MOT defects · Lights

Indicator discoloured or wrong colour MOT advisory: what it means and which cars get it

In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as an advisory on at least 0.6 in 100 and as a failure on at least 0.07 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Renault Scenic got it most often: recorded 5.8 times per 100 of its 44,724 tests.

DVSA wording: Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements.

Failures
0.07 in 100
At least 23,656 tests in 2023
Advisories
0.6 in 100
At least 198,072 tests in 2023
Most often
Renault Scenic
5.8 per 100 tests

What it means

An indicator's light is not the right colour, position or brightness. Usually a faded or discoloured lens, or a clear lens with the wrong bulb. As an advisory it usually reads "slightly discoloured".

How serious it is

A major defect, so a fail, when the emitted colour, position or intensity is not as required.

Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 4.4.

  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. Advisory Pass
    It could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.

What fixing it usually involves

A new lens or lamp unit, or the correct amber bulb.

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 65 models with at least 20,000 tests where it is among the 40 most common items. DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail.

ModelTestsFailAdvisory
Renault Scenic44,724
1.8
4.0
Volvo S4021,201
2.1
3.5
Fiat Punto72,390
1.9
3.7
Nissan NV20026,275
2.1
3.2
Ford Fusion58,809
1.9
3.4
Volvo C3024,617
2.0
3.3
Peugeot 207159,030
2.2
2.9
Citroen C3195,092
1.7
3.1
Toyota Verso28,910
1.6
2.6
Vauxhall Agila37,884
1.5
2.6

What to check at a viewing

  1. On the car
    Check every indicator flashes amber at a steady rate.
  2. In the MOT history
    If this appears as an advisory, see whether it came back at the next test or turned into a failure, and ask the seller for the receipt if it was fixed.

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 "Indicator discoloured or wrong colour" mean on an MOT?
An indicator's light is not the right colour, position or brightness. Usually a faded or discoloured lens, or a clear lens with the wrong bulb. As an advisory it usually reads "slightly discoloured".
Indicator discoloured or wrong colour: is it an MOT fail?
A major defect, so a fail, when the emitted colour, position or intensity is not as required.
Which cars are most likely to get "indicator discoloured or wrong colour" on an MOT?
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, the models that got it most often were the Renault Scenic (5.8 per 100 tests), the Volvo S40 (5.6 per 100 tests), the Fiat Punto (5.6 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.