1999 Fiat Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
255 MOT tests on the 1999 Fiat Camper are in this dataset, and 72.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the 1999 Camper comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests against 11.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Camper fails 28.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 31.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 44 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.4% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.0% | 23 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.2% | 21 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.0% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 15 |
| 3 | Wipers | 14 |
| 4 | Washers | 13 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 13 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.3% | 90 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.9% | 84 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.1% | 36 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 34 |
| 5 | Tyres | 12.2% | 31 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.8% | 25 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 118 | 28.8% |
| 60-90k | 88 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 58 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 45 | 22.2% |
| 2024 | 56 | 28.6% |
| 2025 | 48 | 33.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Camper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (9.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1999 Fiat Campers pass their MOT?
72.5% of the 255 1999 Fiat Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Fiat Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by brakes (11.4%).
Does the 1999 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.8% in the 30-60k band to 31.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 255 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.