1981 Volkswagen Camper — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

62.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,514

Total Tests (All Years)

52,985 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 1981 Volkswagen Camper as it ages.

28 yrs45.6%

→ ↓0.5%

29 yrs45.1%

→ ↓1.3%

30 yrs43.8%

→ ↓2.5%

31 yrs41.3%

→ ↑8.7%

32 yrs50.0%

→ ↓9.7%

33 yrs40.3%

→ ↑6.4%

34 yrs46.7%

→ ↑4.1%

35 yrs50.8%

→ ↑1.3%

36 yrs52.1%

→ ↓2.9%

37 yrs49.2%

→ ↑2.9%

38 yrs52.1%

→ ↑0.8%

39 yrs52.9%

→ ↑3.4%

40 yrs56.3%

→ ↓4.7%

41 yrs51.6%

→ ↑11.2%

43 yrs62.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	45.6%	125
29 yrs	45.1%	133
30 yrs	43.8%	144
31 yrs	41.3%	143
32 yrs	50.0%	130
33 yrs	40.3%	134
34 yrs	46.7%	135
35 yrs	50.8%	126
36 yrs	52.1%	117
37 yrs	49.2%	65
38 yrs	52.1%	73
39 yrs	52.9%	51
40 yrs	56.3%	64
41 yrs	51.6%	31
43 yrs	62.8%	43

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Volkswagen Camper pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (43 yrs)	62.8%	43
2022 (41 yrs)	51.6%	31
2021 (40 yrs)	56.3%	64
2020 (39 yrs)	52.9%	51
2019 (38 yrs)	52.1%	73
2018 (37 yrs)	49.2%	65
2017 (36 yrs)	52.1%	117
2016 (35 yrs)	50.8%	126
2015 (34 yrs)	46.7%	135
2014 (33 yrs)	40.3%	134
2013 (32 yrs)	50%	130
2012 (31 yrs)	41.3%	143
2011 (30 yrs)	43.8%	144
2010 (29 yrs)	45.1%	133
2009 (28 yrs)	45.6%	125

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 125Avg Mileage 63,081Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.8%

2010High Fail Rate

45.1%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 133Avg Mileage 63,673Top Failure Brakes — 31.6%

2011High Fail Rate

43.8%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 144Avg Mileage 61,624Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2012High Fail Rate

41.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 143Avg Mileage 63,520Top Failure Suspension — 43.4%

2013High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 130Avg Mileage 65,152Top Failure Suspension — 103.1%

2014High Fail Rate

40.3%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 134Avg Mileage 59,250Top Failure Suspension — 141.8%

2015High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 135Avg Mileage 57,336Top Failure Suspension — 97.0%

2016High Fail Rate

50.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 126Avg Mileage 61,893Top Failure Suspension — 92.9%

2017High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 117Avg Mileage 52,627Top Failure Brakes — 93.2%

2018High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 65Avg Mileage 66,857Top Failure Brakes — 61.5%

2019High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 73Avg Mileage 62,308Top Failure Suspension — 98.6%

2020High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 51Avg Mileage 54,155Top Failure Suspension — 70.6%

2021High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 64Avg Mileage 56,809Top Failure Suspension — 57.8%

2022High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 31Avg Mileage 57,332Top Failure Suspension — 80.6%

2024High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 43Avg Mileage 52,985Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.5%

MOT results for 1981 Volkswagen Camper by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	45.6%	125	63,081	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.8%
2010	29	45.1%	133	63,673	Brakes — 31.6%
2011	30	43.8%	144	61,624	Suspension — 33.3%
2012	31	41.3%	143	63,520	Suspension — 43.4%
2013	32	50.0%	130	65,152	Suspension — 103.1%
2014	33	40.3%	134	59,250	Suspension — 141.8%
2015	34	46.7%	135	57,336	Suspension — 97.0%
2016	35	50.8%	126	61,893	Suspension — 92.9%
2017	36	52.1%	117	52,627	Brakes — 93.2%
2018	37	49.2%	65	66,857	Brakes — 61.5%
2019	38	52.1%	73	62,308	Suspension — 98.6%
2020	39	52.9%	51	54,155	Suspension — 70.6%
2021	40	56.3%	64	56,809	Suspension — 57.8%
2022	41	51.6%	31	57,332	Suspension — 80.6%
2024	43	62.8%	43	52,985	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 60.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Volkswagen Camper, with age trends.

Suspension

70.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

55.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

51.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

46.8%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

39.4%

↑ 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
Suspension	36.8% (28 yrs)	16.3% (43 yrs)	-20.5%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	31.2% (28 yrs)	39.5% (43 yrs)	+8.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,514 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.