Volkswagen Campervan MOT pass rate & common failures
1,142 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Campervan (1980–2020) give it a 72.9% pass rate. That is 4.9 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.1%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests against 11.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, wipers and position lamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 66 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.5% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 27.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Campervan model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 43 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1983 | 38 | 63.2% | 36.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1984 | 32 | 62.5% | 37.5% | Suspension |
| 1987 | 39 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Visibility |
| 1989 | 69 | 75.4% | 24.6% | Suspension |
| 1990 | 79 | 72.2% | 27.9% | Visibility |
| 1991 | 62 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 31 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 30 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Steering |
| 2005 | 48 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 73 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 66 | 77.3% | 22.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 32 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 56 | 69.6% | 30.4% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 36 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Visibility |
| 2012 | 38 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 34 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 38 | 63.2% | 36.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 30 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Steering |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 176 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 131 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 102 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.5% | 86 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 68 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 56 |
| 7 | Steering | 4.4% | 50 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.5% | 28 |
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 | 66 |
| 2 | Wipers | 59 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 58 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 57 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 55 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 55 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 51 |
| 8 | Washers | 45 |
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 | 22.9% | 262 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 213 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.6% | 155 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.9% | 147 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 122 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.7% | 88 |
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 | 218 | 20.2% |
| 30-60k | 282 | 26.2% |
| 60-90k | 227 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 164 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 119 | 31.1% |
| 150k+ | 131 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 874 | 27.5% |
| Diesel | 268 | 25.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 289 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 255 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 217 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 189 | 27.0% |
| 2025 | 192 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a Volkswagen Campervan
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.5% 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.
- Suspension (8.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Volkswagen Campervan?
72.9% of the 1,142 Volkswagen Campervan MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.1% fail rate, across model years 1980–2020.
What does the Volkswagen Campervan most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, then brakes (11.5%).
How much does mileage affect Campervan MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.5% for 150k+, a 10.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,142 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.