1982 Volkswagen Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1982 Volkswagen Camper passed 68.3% of its 394 recorded MOT tests. That is 13.0 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 18.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.8% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and wipers — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 63 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1982 Camper fails 30.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 33.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 40.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 74 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.0% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 53 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.9% | 39 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 37 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.9% | 31 |
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 | 63 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 33 |
| 3 | Wipers | 33 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 29 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 28 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.9% | 157 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.1% | 95 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.1% | 79 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.0% | 55 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.7% | 46 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 44 |
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 | 118 | 30.5% |
| 30-60k | 88 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 95 | 35.8% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 33.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 347 | 32.3% |
| Diesel | 47 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 159 | 30.2% |
| 2022 | 120 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 51 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 32 | 37.5% |
| 2025 | 32 | 40.6% |
What to check before buying a 1982 Camper
On a 1982 Camper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.0% 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.
- Brakes (13.5% 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.
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 1982 Volkswagen Campers pass their MOT?
68.3% of the 394 1982 Volkswagen Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1982 Volkswagen Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by suspension (14.0%).
Does the 1982 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 394 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.