2007 Volkswagen Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Volkswagen Camper passed 76.7% of its 473 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.7% of the time, so this is 3.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests against 8.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.9% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.5% in 2021 to 14.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 72 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 39 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.3% | 30 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.5% | 26 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 25 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Washers | 24 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 21 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 20 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
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 | 19.2% | 91 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.1% | 81 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.4% | 73 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 57 |
| 5 | Steering | 11.0% | 52 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.1% | 43 |
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 | 79 | 16.5% |
| 30-60k | 145 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 62 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 45 | 28.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 424 | 22.6% |
| Diesel | 49 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 160 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 102 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 76 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 81 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 54 | 14.8% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Camper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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.
- Visibility (6.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2007 Volkswagen Campers pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 473 2007 Volkswagen Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Volkswagen Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by brakes (8.3%).
Does the 2007 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.5% in the 0-30k band to 28.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 473 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.