Volkswagen Bora
From 9,983 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Boras fare better: 2006 models pass at 66.8% vs 62% for 1999.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 581 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 581 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 493 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 321 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 297 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 294 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 286 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 229 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 220 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 208 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 207 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 16.8% of Bora failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 42% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £136.
Volkswagen Bora on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,099 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 1,099. At this rate, roughly 7.9 years until none remain. Now at 16.4% of its peak (52,609 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 3,897 | 4,751 | +0 | -186 | -186 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,109 | 4,725 | +0 | -194 | -194 |
| 2025 Q1 | 4,334 | 4,694 | +0 | -293 | -293 |
| 2024 Q4 | 4,570 | 4,751 | +0 | -426 | -426 |
| 2024 Q3 | 4,841 | 4,906 | +0 | -294 | -294 |
| 2024 Q2 | 5,116 | 4,925 | +0 | -264 | -264 |
| 2024 Q1 | 5,377 | 4,928 | +1 | -275 | -274 |
| 2023 Q4 | 5,704 | 4,875 | +1 | -258 | -257 |
16 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bora Highline Tdi 130 | Diesel | 767 | 22% |
| Bora Tdi Se | Diesel | 326 | 9% |
| Bora Tdi Sport | Diesel | 293 | 8% |
| Bora Se | Diesel | 289 | 8% |
| Bora Highline Tdi 100 | Diesel | 280 | 8% |
| Bora S | Petrol | 278 | 8% |
| Bora Se Tdi | Diesel | 278 | 8% |
| Bora S Tdi | Petrol | 277 | 8% |
| Bora Tdi | Diesel | 121 | 3% |
| Bora Tdi St | Diesel | 117 | 3% |
| Bora Se Auto | Petrol | 108 | 3% |
| Bora Highline 105 | Petrol | 95 | 3% |
| Bora Sport | Gas | 82 | 2% |
| Bora Sport Tdi | Diesel | 82 | 2% |
| Bora Highline Tdi 130 A | Diesel | 79 | 2% |
| Bora V5 | Petrol | 67 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 66.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2005 | 69.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 68.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 67.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
4 earlier years
| 2002 | 69.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 71.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2000 | 69.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1999 | 62% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Boras tested had between 83,714 and 143,196 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 122,254 median miles, the Bora has 0.026 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Volkswagen models
| Volkswagen Golf | 79.1% |
| Volkswagen Polo | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 73.8% |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 84.6% |
| Volkswagen Passat | 76.9% |
Common questions
What is the Volkswagen Bora MOT pass rate?
The Volkswagen Bora has a 68.5% MOT pass rate based on 9,983 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Volkswagen Bora?
The most common MOT failure on the Volkswagen Bora is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 581 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Volkswagen Boras are on UK roads?
There are 3,897 Volkswagen Boras currently licensed on UK roads, with 4,751 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Volkswagen Bora at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Volkswagen Bora is 122,254 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 83,714 and 143,196 miles.
Buying a used Bora?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 68.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £136 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.