The invention relates to an optical acquisition device (3) for a motor vehicle (1), having a housing (8) of the optical acquisition device (3), in which a light source unit (10) of the optical acquisition device (3) is arranged, wherein light beams (6) can be emitted by means of the light source unit (10) through a housing part (9) of the housing (8) into surroundings (4) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the optical acquisition device (3) comprises a checking unit (16), by means of which a functional state of the housing (8) is checkable, and if an actual functional state of the housing (8) deviating from a reference functional state of the housing (8) is detected, a control signal can be generated. The invention furthermore relates to a motor vehicle (1) and a method.