Mercedes-Benz Camper MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 42 model years and 1,614 tests, the Mercedes-Benz Camper passes its MOT 79.2% of the time. That is 4.2 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.0%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests against 10.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 100 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.1% in the 0-30k band and 25.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.0% in 2021 to 19.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Camper model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 41 | 75.6% | 24.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 36 | 72.2% | 27.8% | Brakes |
| 1986 | 38 | 76.3% | 23.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 76 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 52 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 58 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 40 | 77.5% | 22.5% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 53 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 49 | 77.5% | 22.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 67 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 81 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 63 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 118 | 84.8% | 15.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 139 | 80.6% | 19.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 99 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 105 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 105 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 110 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 60 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 264 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.8% | 174 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 91 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 86 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.0% | 65 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 47 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.5% | 40 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 32 |
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 | 100 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 89 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 70 |
| 4 | Wipers | 62 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 61 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 59 |
| 7 | Individual direction indicators | 55 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 55 |
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 | 29.2% | 471 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.8% | 287 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.5% | 202 |
| 4 | Tyres | 11.5% | 186 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 175 |
| 6 | Steering | 9.6% | 155 |
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 | 58 | 12.1% |
| 30-60k | 437 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 379 | 20.8% |
| 90-120k | 276 | 22.1% |
| 120-150k | 152 | 25.0% |
| 150k+ | 311 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,583 | 20.7% |
| Petrol | 31 | 22.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 354 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 334 | 20.7% |
| 2023 | 325 | 20.3% |
| 2024 | 300 | 18.7% |
| 2025 | 301 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz Camper
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.6% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes-Benz Camper?
79.2% of the 1,614 Mercedes-Benz Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.8% fail rate, across model years 1980–2021.
What does the Mercedes-Benz Camper most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, then brakes (10.8%).
How much does mileage affect Camper MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 25.7% for 150k+, a 13.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,614 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.