2004 Fiat Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Fiat Camper passed 75.3% of its 482 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 37 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.9% versus 22.5%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 23.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.7% in 2021 to 22.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 68 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 47 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 40 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 23 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.1% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 37 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 25 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 23 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 22 |
| 5 | Wipers | 18 |
| 6 | Outline marker lamp | 16 |
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 | 23.6% | 114 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.8% | 81 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 54 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 52 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.7% | 42 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.2% | 30 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 71 | 22.5% |
| 30-60k | 243 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 140 | 27.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 116 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 100 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 91 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 94 | 24.5% |
| 2025 | 81 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Camper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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 (8.3% 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 2004 Fiat Campers pass their MOT?
75.3% of the 482 2004 Fiat Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Fiat Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2004 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 482 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.