2011 Volkswagen Camper — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Volkswagen Camper passed 80.3% of its 284 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.7% of all tests — 5.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and rear fog lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 16 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2011 Camper fails 15.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 15.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 15.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 39 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.5% | 24 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.3% | 15 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 15 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 6 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 9 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 8 |
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 | 15.8% | 45 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.1% | 43 |
| 3 | Steering | 9.9% | 28 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 25 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.5% | 24 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 18 |
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 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 91 | 25.3% |
| 60-90k | 69 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 59 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 55 | 21.8% |
| 2024 | 49 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 46 | 23.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Camper
On a 2011 Camper, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2011 Volkswagen Campers pass their MOT?
80.3% of the 284 2011 Volkswagen Camper MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Volkswagen Camper?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by brakes (8.5%).
Does the 2011 Camper get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 284 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.