1978 Volkswagen Camper — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

50.0%

Latest Pass Rate

2,859

Total Tests (All Years)

51,291 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1978 Volkswagen Camper as it ages.

31 yrs53.3%

→ ↓1.8%

32 yrs51.5%

→ ↓0.9%

33 yrs50.6%

→ ↓0.4%

34 yrs50.2%

→ ↓0.9%

35 yrs49.3%

→ ↑6.0%

36 yrs55.3%

→ ↓0.7%

37 yrs54.6%

→ ↑4.1%

38 yrs58.7%

→ ↑0.1%

39 yrs58.8%

→ ↑0.7%

40 yrs59.5%

→ ↓2.6%

41 yrs56.9%

→ ↓1.9%

42 yrs55.0%

→ ↓3.4%

43 yrs51.6%

→ ↓1.6%

45 yrs50.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	53.3%	255
32 yrs	51.5%	239
33 yrs	50.6%	267
34 yrs	50.2%	275
35 yrs	49.3%	298
36 yrs	55.3%	291
37 yrs	54.6%	284
38 yrs	58.7%	288
39 yrs	58.8%	272
40 yrs	59.5%	158
41 yrs	56.9%	109
42 yrs	55.0%	60
43 yrs	51.6%	31
45 yrs	50.0%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Volkswagen Camper pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2023 (45 yrs)	50%	32
2021 (43 yrs)	51.6%	31
2020 (42 yrs)	55%	60
2019 (41 yrs)	56.9%	109
2018 (40 yrs)	59.5%	158
2017 (39 yrs)	58.8%	272
2016 (38 yrs)	58.7%	288
2015 (37 yrs)	54.6%	284
2014 (36 yrs)	55.3%	291
2013 (35 yrs)	49.3%	298
2012 (34 yrs)	50.2%	275
2011 (33 yrs)	50.6%	267
2010 (32 yrs)	51.5%	239
2009 (31 yrs)	53.3%	255

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 255Avg Mileage 59,904Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%

2010High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 239Avg Mileage 60,847Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.1%

2011High Fail Rate

50.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 267Avg Mileage 57,910Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%

2012High Fail Rate

50.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 275Avg Mileage 60,956Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.5%

2013High Fail Rate

49.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 298Avg Mileage 61,527Top Failure Suspension — 75.5%

2014High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 291Avg Mileage 58,157Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.0%

2015High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 284Avg Mileage 57,458Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 62.0%

2016High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 288Avg Mileage 59,240Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.2%

2017High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 272Avg Mileage 60,214Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.5%

2018High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 158Avg Mileage 58,392Top Failure Brakes — 50.0%

2019High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 109Avg Mileage 72,213Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.1%

2020High Fail Rate

55.0%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 60Avg Mileage 80,450Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 66.7%

2021High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 31Avg Mileage 53,314Top Failure Brakes — 93.5%

2023High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 32Avg Mileage 51,291Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 75.0%

MOT results for 1978 Volkswagen Camper by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	53.3%	255	59,904	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%
2010	32	51.5%	239	60,847	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.1%
2011	33	50.6%	267	57,910	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%
2012	34	50.2%	275	60,956	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.5%
2013	35	49.3%	298	61,527	Suspension — 75.5%
2014	36	55.3%	291	58,157	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.0%
2015	37	54.6%	284	57,458	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 62.0%
2016	38	58.7%	288	59,240	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.2%
2017	39	58.8%	272	60,214	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.5%
2018	40	59.5%	158	58,392	Brakes — 50.0%
2019	41	56.9%	109	72,213	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 43.1%
2020	42	55.0%	60	80,450	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 66.7%
2021	43	51.6%	31	53,314	Brakes — 93.5%
2023	45	50.0%	32	51,291	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 75.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Volkswagen Camper, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

49.6%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

46.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

43.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

43.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

38.7%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	22.4% (31 yrs)	62.5% (45 yrs)	+40.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	19.2% (31 yrs)	43.8% (45 yrs)	+24.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Camper page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Camper cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2023, covering 2,859 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.