1991 Volkswagen Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
368 MOT tests on the 1991 Volkswagen Camper are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.9% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 23 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 18.9% in the 60-90k band and 29.5% in the 150k+ band, a 10.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 37 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.5% | 35 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 28 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 23 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 17 |
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 | 23 |
| 2 | Wipers | 20 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 16 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 15 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 14 |
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 | 39.4% | 145 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.1% | 118 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 69 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.9% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.4% | 53 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.1% | 52 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 37 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 93 | 21.5% |
| 120-150k | 89 | 23.6% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 29.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 203 | 20.7% |
| Diesel | 165 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | 19.1% |
| 2022 | 86 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 77 | 24.7% |
| 2024 | 73 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 69 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Camper
On a 1991 Camper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.1% 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 (9.5% 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 1991 Volkswagen Campers pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 368 1991 Volkswagen Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Volkswagen Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by brakes (10.1%).
Does the 1991 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 60-90k band to 29.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 368 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.