Recorded in
0.9% 0% fail
of every MOT test in our data — 1,034,312 records across 1,226 models.
Lamps & electrics → Headlamp lens slightly defective
The Headlamp lens slightly defective MOT failure is recorded in 0.9% of all MOT tests in the DVSA data — 1,034,312 records across 1,226 models. A typical repair costs £5–£25. This page explains what the item means, how testers write it down, what a repair usually involves and Honda Fr-V records it most often for its size.
Advisory only
0%
were noted without failing the car.
Typical cost
£5–£25
Usually a DIY or independent-garage job. Estimate, fitted where needed.
What Headlamp lens slightly defective means on an MOT
Headlamp lens slightly defective is an MOT inspection item in the lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the manual. The tester records it when they see the condition the description names — here, when headlamp lens slightly defective. A headlamp must light as intended and be aimed within the manual's beam-setter limits; aim and condition are both checked. The failure is reported against that rule, so the page uses the tester's own wording.
How common is Headlamp lens slightly defective on an MOT?
Recorded in 0.9% of every MOT test in our data — 1,034,312 records across 1,226 models. That is 1% in every hundred tests, which puts Headlamp lens slightly defective in the middle of the items testers record.
Of the 1,034,312 records for this item, 0.0% of the records are a fail (Major or Dangerous), 100.0% are minor.
Other things testers write about this item
Testers do not all write the same thing. These are the exact DVSA strings from the records for this item, each with how many tests it was written on — the page's keyword vocabulary comes straight from them.
- Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced — 1,049,817 records
- Side repeaters lens defective which has no effect on emitted light — 190,771 records
- Headlamp lens seriously defective — 142,920 records
- Stop lamp lens defective which has no effect on emitted light — 54,411 records
- Individual direction indicators lens defective which has no effect on emitted light — 52,893 records
- Rear fog lamp lens defective which has no effect on emitted light — 43,802 records
- Rear fog lamp lens defective such that emitted light is adversely affected — 21,765 records
- Headlamp reflector slightly defective — 17,900 records
- Side repeaters lens defective such that the emitted light is adversely affected — 15,144 records
- Position lamp lens seriously defective — 11,499 records
What does it cost to fix Headlamp lens slightly defective?
A typical repair on this item costs £5–£25 at UK prices, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. The bracket is our estimate from reported prices and parts, rather than a DVSA figure — see how it is built on the method page.
How the price brackets are built · full repair cost list · add it to your fail-sheet total.
Models that record Headlamp lens slightly defective most often
As a rate of each model's own tests, Honda Fr-V and Ford Focus C-Max lead the list: Honda Fr-V records it on 7.3% of its tests. The rate, not the volume, is what matters here — a model with 20,000 tests can outrank one with a million.
| # | Model | Rate | Tests | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Fr-V | 7.3% | 27,466 | — |
| 2 | Ford Focus C-Max | 7.1% | 56,718 | — |
| 3 | Honda Accord | 6.0% | 95,487 | 6.7× · year by year → |
| 4 | Daihatsu Sirion | 5.7% | 22,729 | — |
| 5 | Fiat Bravo | 5.3% | 20,488 | — |
| 6 | Volkswagen Bora | 5.2% | 20,051 | — |
| 7 | Peugeot 307 | 5.2% | 121,498 | — |
| 8 | Lexus IS200 | 5.0% | 20,777 | — |
| 9 | Hyundai Coupe | 5.0% | 23,404 | — |
| 10 | Volkswagen Fox | 4.9% | 104,121 | — |
| 11 | Mazda Bongo | 4.6% | 30,855 | — |
| 12 | Rover 75 | 4.5% | 28,888 | — |
| 13 | Toyota MR2 | 4.4% | 24,989 | — |
| 14 | Honda Insight | 4.4% | 30,810 | — |
| 15 | Hyundai Getz | 4.4% | 76,810 | — |
| 16 | Nissan Almera | 4.3% | 54,229 | — |
| 17 | Vauxhall Vectra | 4.3% | 117,307 | — |
| 18 | Toyota Rav-4 | 4.2% | 109,644 | 4.7× · year by year → |
| 19 | Chevrolet Matiz | 4.2% | 40,193 | — |
| 20 | Fiat Grande Punto | 4.2% | 25,466 | — |
Which years of car record Headlamp lens slightly defective
| Year | Recorded in |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.2% |
| 2011 | 1.0% |
| 2012 | 0.7% |
| 2013 | 0.4% |
| 2014 | 0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.0% |
These are rates by year of registration from 2010 to 2024, not year of test, so the curve mostly reflects age — a recent car has barely been to a test station. Compare models at the same age instead.
Frequently asked questions about Headlamp lens slightly defective
How common is Headlamp lens slightly defective on an MOT?
It is recorded in 0.9% of all MOT tests — 1,034,312 records across 1,226 models.
Does Headlamp lens slightly defective fail the MOT or just get an advisory?
0.0% of the records for it are a fail, 0.0% were fixed at the test, 100.0% are minor and 0.0% are advisories. In short, it is an advisory or minor most of the time rather than a fail.
Which cars record Headlamp lens slightly defective most often?
Honda Fr-V and Ford Focus C-Max head the list, at a rate of each model's own tests — Honda Fr-V records it on 7.3%. Only models with at least 20,000 recorded tests are shown.
How much does it cost to fix Headlamp lens slightly defective?
Typically £5–£25 fitted, and it is usually a DIY or independent-garage job. That is an estimate from reported prices, not a DVSA figure.
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