Honda Motor Co. will recall 734,392 Fit subcompact cars because of defective headlights, according to a report filed Thursday with Japan’s transportation ministry.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism, Honda will recall vehicles produced between November 2001 and October 2007. It’s the ninth-biggest recall since the reporting system began in 1969.

The ministry said the terminal of a wire tightly connected with the headlight switch on the back of steering wheels could heat up and melt, disabling the low-beam lights.

A total of 130 cases involving such problems with the headlights were reported between April 2005 and November 2010, according to the ministry.

Honda has exported around 621,000 Fit cars to the U.K., Germany, the U.S. and other overseas markets, and is expected to take steps based on the vehicle recall systems in the respective countries.