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Volkswagen Camping Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Volkswagen Camping reliable? We analysed 1,661 real MOT tests across 109 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,661 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.6%
Typical Mileage
58,087mi
Annual Mileage
1,055mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
46yrs

The Volkswagen Camping is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Camping.

Volkswagen Camping Number Plates

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

Volkswagen Camping MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

68.1%
1986
58%
1984
70.5%
1983
65.2%
1982
61.1%
1981
65.3%
1980

Volkswagen Camping Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 135
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 73
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 72
Brake pipe excessively corroded 65
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 60
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 54
Steering rack gaiter split 53
Stop lamp not working 48
Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded 44
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 41

Volkswagen Camping Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
349 mi/yr
Typical
1,055 mi/yr
Average
2,313 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,001 mi/yr

Volkswagen Camping MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1986 69 68.1% 68,291 88,733 104,399
1984 81 58.0% 51,259 82,744 98,007
1983 308 70.5% 33,718 61,312 92,031
1982 489 65.2% 38,007 59,688 83,039
1981 422 61.1% 21,018 35,524 86,184
1980 202 65.3% 15,626 45,635 65,893

How Long Does a Volkswagen Camping Last?

Based on 109 Volkswagen Camping vehicles on UK roads.

Average
35.7 years
Median
38.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
46 years

Volkswagen Camping Mileage Distribution

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

Median
58,087 mi
75th Percentile
89,120 mi
95th Percentile
169,505 mi
Max Recorded
964,368 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Camping

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

Best year
1983

70.5% MOT pass rate from 308 tests

Year to avoid
1984

58.0% MOT pass rate from 81 tests

The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Camping is 1983, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.5% across 308 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Volkswagen Camping Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Volkswagen Camping THIS CAR 65.6% 1,661 58,087 mi 46 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
Toyota RAV4 Icon D-4D 4X2 94.7% 2,152 89,212 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Volkswagen Camping?

The Volkswagen Camping has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.6% across 1,661 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Volkswagen Camping are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (135 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (73), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (72). 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 Camping owner drives around 1,055 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 Camping models stay on UK roads for around 46 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 Camping — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Volkswagen Camping reliable?
Based on 1,661 MOT tests, the Volkswagen Camping has a 65.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Volkswagen Camping?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Volkswagen Camping do per year?
The typical Volkswagen Camping does around 1,055 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Volkswagen Camping last?
Most Volkswagen Camping models stay on UK roads for around 46 years based on our analysis of 109 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Volkswagen Camping?
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 Camping?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Camping is 1983 with a 70.5% pass rate across 308 tests.