fatbus
Things may have changed, but way back, it wasn't acceptable to have an open defect. If it couldn't be cleared, it went as an ADD "Acceptable Deferred Defect", which was in a separate section of the log. If not acceptable, the aircraft wasn't airworthy.
It could be aa simple as "Recurring defect not detectable on the ground. Crews are requested to monitor", but it would be there; right in your face.