Dipped headlamp at the MOT: which cars fail on it most
4.9% of failed initial MOT tests in 2025 recorded this defect: 452,197 of 9,185,328. By age, it was most common on vehicles 10 to 14 years old (5.5%) and least common on vehicles under 3 years old (1.5%).
It is one of the 10 most common MOT failures on 103 of the 332 car models we cover. Against vehicles of the same age, it was most common on the MG 5, the Hyundai i800 and the Renault Kadjar. On the MG 5, 14.6% of failed tests had it, against 2.0% for all vehicles of the same age.
The DVSA records it as “Headlamp not working on dipped beam”. A failed test can have several defects.
What the MOT checks
A headlamp that doesn't work on dipped beam. Vehicles need a matched pair of dipped-beam headlamps.
The MOT inspection manual lists “A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED” as a major defect, so the vehicle fails.
Car models where it is most common
| # | Car | Share of failed tests | Against same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MG 52,255 failed tests | 14.6%329 tests | 7.2×all: 2.0% |
| 2 | Hyundai i8001,820 failed tests | 18.4%334 tests | 4.1×all: 4.5% |
| 3 | Renault Kadjar18,181 failed tests | 15.3%2,778 tests | 3.5×all: 4.4% |
| 4 | MG ZS10,837 failed tests | 10.4%1,125 tests | 3.4×all: 3.0% |
| 5 | Toyota C-HR14,401 failed tests | 12.2%1,757 tests | 3.3×all: 3.7% |
| 6 | Ford Tourneo Custom2,638 failed tests | 9.2%242 tests | 3.2×all: 2.8% |
| 7 | Peugeot Rifter1,758 failed tests | 9.8%173 tests | 3.1×all: 3.2% |
| 8 | Lexus CT5,370 failed tests | 14.2%760 tests | 2.7×all: 5.2% |
| 9 | Ford EcoSport25,438 failed tests | 11.3%2,878 tests | 2.6×all: 4.3% |
| 10 | Dacia Duster23,583 failed tests | 11.1%2,625 tests | 2.6×all: 4.4% |
| 11 | Citroen C4 Cactus6,142 failed tests | 11.2%689 tests | 2.5×all: 4.4% |
| 12 | Peugeot 200837,596 failed tests | 11.1%4,174 tests | 2.5×all: 4.5% |
| 13 | Citroen C3 Picasso1,616 failed tests | 10.6%171 tests | 2.4×all: 4.5% |
| 14 | Citroen C4 Grand Picasso4,744 failed tests | 10.2%484 tests | 2.3×all: 4.5% |
| 15 | Peugeot 20864,789 failed tests | 10.6%6,870 tests | 2.2×all: 4.9% |
Only models where this defect is one of their 10 most common MOT failures, with at least 50 failed tests, have a figure. So a model that isn't listed can still have it, just less often than its other faults. Vans, pick-ups and taxis are left out, as in our rankings. × is the model's share divided by the share for all vehicles of the same age.
How common it is by car age
- Under 3 years, first used 2023 to 20241.5% of failed tests, against 4.9% for all ages162 failed tests
- 3 to 5 years, first used 2020 to 20222.5% of failed tests, against 4.9% for all ages16,859 failed tests
- 6 to 9 years, first used 2016 to 20194.5% of failed tests, against 4.9% for all ages95,199 failed tests
- 10 to 14 years, first used 2011 to 20155.5% of failed tests, against 4.9% for all ages185,324 failed tests
- 15 to 19 years, first used 2006 to 20105.5% of failed tests, against 4.9% for all ages120,633 failed tests
- 20 years and over, first used 1985 to 20054.2% of failed tests, against 4.9% for all ages34,020 failed tests
All-vehicle figures cover vehicles first used from 1985 to 2024: 9,185,328 of the 9,193,164 failed initial tests in 2025.
How these figures are counted
These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. A defect found on more than one wheel, lamp or joint at the same test counts once. "Same age" is the defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the model's own failed tests in each year.
An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. These figures show where a defect was recorded, not why, and not what a repair costs. Figures: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. What the MOT checks: MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, GOV.UK, read 1 Nov 2026.
How we choose and rank these defectsOther lights and electrics faults
- Position lamp8.7% of failed tests
- Stop lamp6.6% of failed tests
- Headlamp beam image4.5% of failed tests
- Headlamp aim too low4.0% of failed tests
- Number plate lamp3.9% of failed tests
- Headlamp aim too high3.0% of failed tests
Share of all failed initial MOT tests in 2025.