1986 Volkswagen Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
326 MOT tests on the 1986 Volkswagen Camper are in this dataset, and 69.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 20.4% of the time, so this is 10.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 20.5% of all tests — 8.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and headlamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 43 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 36.4% in the 0-30k band and 32.2% in the 150k+ band, a 4.2-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 40.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.3% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.5% | 67 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.0% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 36 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 28 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 25 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.7% | 12 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 30 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 18 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | Suspension | 40.5% | 132 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.6% | 77 |
| 3 | Tyres | 18.7% | 61 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.1% | 59 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 43 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 28 |
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 | 66 | 36.4% |
| 30-60k | 61 | 37.7% |
| 60-90k | 47 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 54 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 39 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 59 | 32.2% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 182 | 31.9% |
| Petrol | 144 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 71 | 32.4% |
| 2023 | 73 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 62 | 35.5% |
| 2025 | 55 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Camper
On a 1986 Camper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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 (11.0% 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.
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 1986 Volkswagen Campers pass their MOT?
69.0% of the 326 1986 Volkswagen Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Volkswagen Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.5% of tests, followed by brakes (12.0%).
Does the 1986 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 36.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 326 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.