2008 Volkswagen Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Volkswagen Camper passed 74.6% of its 448 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.0%, so the 2008 Camper sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.4% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp and rbt (sp) — position lamp alone was recorded 30 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.4% versus 24.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 15.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 22.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.4% | 78 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.4% | 60 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.0% | 27 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 25 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.9% | 22 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 30 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 28 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 26 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 6 | Washers | 20 |
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 | 15.8% | 71 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.5% | 65 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.0% | 45 |
| 4 | Tyres | 9.6% | 43 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 38 |
| 6 | Steering | 7.6% | 34 |
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 | 108 | 24.1% |
| 30-60k | 134 | 20.9% |
| 60-90k | 117 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 39 | 30.8% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 371 | 24.5% |
| Diesel | 64 | 28.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 141 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 84 | 26.2% |
| 2023 | 86 | 20.9% |
| 2024 | 74 | 25.7% |
| 2025 | 63 | 22.2% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Camper
On a 2008 Camper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.4% 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 (6.0% 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 2008 Volkswagen Campers pass their MOT?
74.6% of the 448 2008 Volkswagen Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.4%).
Does the 2008 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.1% in the 0-30k band to 36.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 448 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.