Volkswagen Camper
From 3,216 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, caused 138 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 138 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 129 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 122 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 117 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 83 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 77 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 75 |
| audible warning inoperative | 74 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 68 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 67 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 25.9% of Camper failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 8.7% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £138.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 60% | stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1991 | 77.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1990 | 68.5% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1989 | 72.2% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
5 earlier years
| 1988 | 63% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 1987 | 67.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1986 | 60.2% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 1983 | 79.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1971 | 67% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
Typical mileage
Half of all Campers tested had between 33,104 and 119,716 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 68,677 median miles, the Camper has 0.043 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volkswagen models
| Volkswagen Golf | 79.1% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 84.6% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 76.9% |
Common questions
What is the Volkswagen Camper MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Camper has a 70.5% MOT pass rate based on 3,216 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Camper?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Camper is windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, which caused 138 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Camper at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Camper is 68,677 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 33,104 and 119,716 miles.
Buying a used Camper?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 70.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £138 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 25.9% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.