# Separation between upper and lower coupler allowing light to show through from side to side — Vehicle inspection defect categories: MOT major, minor and dangerous verdicts

For Separation between upper and lower coupler allowing light to show through from side to side, category is Reject; inspection item number is 2; defect reference is a.(4)(d); inspection item is Coupling devices; authority is US 49 CFR Appendix A to Part 396, recorded from its source on 2026-08-06.

- **Defect:** Separation between upper and lower coupler allowing light to show through from side to side _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Category:** Reject
- **Inspection item number:** 2
- **Defect reference:** a.(4)(d)
- **Inspection item:** Coupling devices
- **Authority:** US 49 CFR Appendix A to Part 396 _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_

## What the source says

> (d) Separation between upper and lower coupler allowing light to show through from side to side.

## Source

- https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/appendix-A_to_part_396

Last verified: 2026-08-06. Review by: 2027-02-02.
Part of [Vehicle inspection defect categories: MOT major, minor and dangerous verdicts](https://referencesource.org/vehicle-inspection-defect-categories/).