1979 Volkswagen Camper — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

40.0%

Latest Pass Rate

3,884

Total Tests (All Years)

43,374 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 1979 Volkswagen Camper as it ages.

30 yrs46.6%

→ ↑1.2%

31 yrs47.8%

→ ↓0.2%

32 yrs47.6%

→ ↑1.4%

33 yrs49.0%

→ ↓2.1%

34 yrs46.9%

→ ↑3.6%

35 yrs50.5%

→ ↓3.4%

36 yrs47.1%

→ ↑2.0%

37 yrs49.1%

→ ↑3.3%

38 yrs52.4%

→ ↑2.2%

39 yrs54.6%

→ ↑4.3%

40 yrs58.9%

→ ↑2.0%

41 yrs60.9%

→ ↓9.2%

42 yrs51.7%

→ ↓0.9%

43 yrs50.8%

→ ↑1.4%

44 yrs52.2%

→ ↓12.2%

45 yrs40.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	46.6%	328
31 yrs	47.8%	335
32 yrs	47.6%	336
33 yrs	49.0%	357
34 yrs	46.9%	354
35 yrs	50.5%	372
36 yrs	47.1%	359
37 yrs	49.1%	348
38 yrs	52.4%	338
39 yrs	54.6%	227
40 yrs	58.9%	207
41 yrs	60.9%	87
42 yrs	51.7%	89
43 yrs	50.8%	61
44 yrs	52.2%	46
45 yrs	40.0%	40

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 Volkswagen Camper pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (45 yrs)	40%	40
2023 (44 yrs)	52.2%	46
2022 (43 yrs)	50.8%	61
2021 (42 yrs)	51.7%	89
2020 (41 yrs)	60.9%	87
2019 (40 yrs)	58.9%	207
2018 (39 yrs)	54.6%	227
2017 (38 yrs)	52.4%	338
2016 (37 yrs)	49.1%	348
2015 (36 yrs)	47.1%	359
2014 (35 yrs)	50.5%	372
2013 (34 yrs)	46.9%	354
2012 (33 yrs)	49%	357
2011 (32 yrs)	47.6%	336
2010 (31 yrs)	47.8%	335
2009 (30 yrs)	46.6%	328

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 328Avg Mileage 59,716Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.0%

2010High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 335Avg Mileage 62,050Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.4%

2011High Fail Rate

47.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 336Avg Mileage 61,598Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.4%

2012High Fail Rate

49.0%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 357Avg Mileage 64,335Top Failure Suspension — 30.0%

2013High Fail Rate

46.9%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 354Avg Mileage 65,149Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.8%

2014High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 372Avg Mileage 63,912Top Failure Suspension — 69.6%

2015High Fail Rate

47.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 359Avg Mileage 63,150Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.6%

2016High Fail Rate

49.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 348Avg Mileage 59,738Top Failure Suspension — 60.9%

2017High Fail Rate

52.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 338Avg Mileage 58,189Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.4%

2018High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 227Avg Mileage 60,193Top Failure Suspension — 50.2%

2019High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 207Avg Mileage 57,141Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 46.4%

2020High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 87Avg Mileage 61,937Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 40.2%

2021High Fail Rate

51.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 89Avg Mileage 53,360Top Failure Brakes — 68.5%

2022High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 61Avg Mileage 44,607Top Failure Brakes — 62.3%

2023High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 46Avg Mileage 46,441Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 71.7%

2024High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 40Avg Mileage 43,374Top Failure Brakes — 57.5%

MOT results for 1979 Volkswagen Camper by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	46.6%	328	59,716	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.0%
2010	31	47.8%	335	62,050	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.4%
2011	32	47.6%	336	61,598	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.4%
2012	33	49.0%	357	64,335	Suspension — 30.0%
2013	34	46.9%	354	65,149	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.8%
2014	35	50.5%	372	63,912	Suspension — 69.6%
2015	36	47.1%	359	63,150	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 71.6%
2016	37	49.1%	348	59,738	Suspension — 60.9%
2017	38	52.4%	338	58,189	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 70.4%
2018	39	54.6%	227	60,193	Suspension — 50.2%
2019	40	58.9%	207	57,141	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 46.4%
2020	41	60.9%	87	61,937	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 40.2%
2021	42	51.7%	89	53,360	Brakes — 68.5%
2022	43	50.8%	61	44,607	Brakes — 62.3%
2023	44	52.2%	46	46,441	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 71.7%
2024	45	40.0%	40	43,374	Brakes — 57.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 Volkswagen Camper, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

49.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

48.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

47.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

43.4%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

30.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	27.1% (30 yrs)	57.5% (45 yrs)	+30.4%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	22.9% (30 yrs)	35.0% (45 yrs)	+12.1%	🔴 ↑

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 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 3,884 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.