2009 Volkswagen Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 300 MOT tests, the 2009 Volkswagen Camper recorded a 78.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.3% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests against 8.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 27 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.0% once past 60-90k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 47 |
| 2 | Visibility | 8.7% | 26 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.7% | 23 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 13 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.7% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 2 | Wipers | 20 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 18 |
| 4 | Washers | 15 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 12 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 14.7% | 44 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.0% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.7% | 38 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.7% | 29 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 23 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 20 |
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 | 81 | 21.0% |
| 30-60k | 127 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 44 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 60 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 57 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 54 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 51 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Camper
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (8.7% 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.
- Brakes (7.7% 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 2009 Volkswagen Campers pass their MOT?
78.0% of the 300 2009 Volkswagen Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Volkswagen Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by visibility (8.7%).
Does the 2009 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 300 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.