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Volkswagen Campervan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Volkswagen Campervan car check

Is the Volkswagen Campervan reliable? We analysed 12,604 real MOT tests across 870 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 12,604 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
68.4%
Typical Mileage
57,536mi
Annual Mileage
1,115mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
61yrs

The Volkswagen Campervan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Campervan.

Volkswagen Campervan Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Campervan. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Volkswagen Campervan MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Volkswagen Campervan to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

80.4%
2015
69%
2014
71%
2013
70%
2012
74.1%
2011
70%
2010
71.1%
2009
74%
2008
70.7%
2007
73.3%
2006
72.2%
2005
68.1%
2004
70.2%
2003
62.3%
2002
72.8%
1999
72.5%
1998
77.9%
1996
64%
1994
74.4%
1993
72%
1991

Volkswagen Campervan Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Volkswagen Campervan fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 811
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 659
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 519
Stop lamp not working 381
position lamp(s) not working 380
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 318
Brake pipe excessively corroded 316
brake binding 312
Horn not working 280
parking brake recording little or no effort 272

Volkswagen Campervan Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Campervan owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
412 mi/yr
Typical
1,115 mi/yr
Average
2,172 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,367 mi/yr

Volkswagen Campervan MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Campervan year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2015 92 80.4% 14,717 20,934 39,278
2014 155 69.0% 30,869 63,621 79,601
2013 93 71.0% 30,538 61,602 90,064
2012 253 70.0% 36,960 52,946 78,080
2011 239 74.1% 23,341 58,432 81,806
2010 257 70.0% 23,100 40,532 82,597
2009 242 71.1% 25,856 48,186 78,762
2008 373 74.0% 20,706 47,945 91,755
2007 335 70.7% 34,488 65,912 88,041
2006 333 73.3% 12,868 27,667 78,218
2005 457 72.2% 29,513 53,901 71,440
2004 282 68.1% 25,711 46,973 82,433
2003 171 70.2% 33,751 49,143 279,882
2002 114 62.3% 37,767 73,049 192,810
1999 114 72.8% 70,610 134,853 232,200
1998 69 72.5% 58,884 72,226 260,507
1996 86 77.9% 58,558 89,392 118,078
1994 50 64.0% 70,503 80,786 90,203
1993 82 74.4% 84,269 172,065 281,843
1991 279 72.0% 86,198 108,315 123,919

How Long Does a Volkswagen Campervan Last?

Based on 870 Volkswagen Campervan vehicles on UK roads.

Average
31.3 years
Median
36.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
61 years

Volkswagen Campervan Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Campervan MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
57,536 mi
75th Percentile
89,039 mi
95th Percentile
208,224 mi
Max Recorded
810,829 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Campervan

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1966

83.5% MOT pass rate from 115 tests

Year to avoid
1983

60.8% MOT pass rate from 283 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Campervan is 1966, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.5% across 115 tests. The 1983 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen Campervan Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Campervan THIS CAR 68.4% 12,604 57,536 mi 61 yrs
Volkswagen Golf 74.9% 22,270,993 83,305 mi 37 yrs
Volkswagen Polo 72.9% 14,598,296 60,351 mi 35 yrs
Volkswagen Passat 73.5% 6,960,690 105,632 mi 32 yrs
Honda Cbr 1000 RR-4 87.6% 8,036 13,815 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Campervan trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Volkswagen Campervan you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Campervan?

The Volkswagen Campervan has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.4% across 12,604 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Volkswagen Campervan are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (811 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (659), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (519). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Volkswagen Campervan owner drives around 1,115 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Campervan models stay on UK roads for around 61 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Volkswagen Campervan — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Campervan reliable?
Based on 12,604 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Campervan has a 68.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Campervan?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Campervan do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Campervan does around 1,115 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Campervan last?
Most Volkswagen Campervan models stay on UK roads for around 61 years based on our analysis of 870 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Campervan?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Volkswagen Campervan?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Campervan is 1966 with a 83.5% pass rate across 115 tests.