Family hatchback · 1999–2014 cars
Volkswagen Bora reliability
The Volkswagen Bora fails 41.4% of first MOT tests, 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 22,757 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Volkswagen Bora before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 41.4%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 7% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 22,757
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Volkswagen Bora ages
Each point is the share of Volkswagen Boras of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Volkswagen Bora | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 42.2% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 42.9% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 41.1% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 41.3% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 41.6% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 39% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 40.5% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 39.9% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 49.6% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Volkswagen Bora years
2001 cars come out best and 2000 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 805 | 45.1% | 0% more fails | 131,675 |
| 2005 Bora | 5,472 | 41.6% | 8% fewer fails | 135,110 |
| 2004 Bora | 4,454 | 40.8% | 10% fewer fails | 135,599 |
| 2003 Bora | 4,130 | 42.5% | 6% fewer fails | 145,724 |
| 2002 Bora | 3,467 | 39.6% | 11% fewer fails | 141,858 |
| 2001 Bora | 1,967 | 37.2% | 14% fewer fails | 132,965 |
| 2000 Bora | 1,519 | 42.3% | 1% more fails | 127,277 |
| 1999 | 921 | 50.6% | 26% more fails | 122,667 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Volkswagen Bora
Its weak spot is steering: 52% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics21.5%4% below avg
- Suspension14.9%18% below avg
- Brakes14.1%6% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure11.7%13% above avg
- Steering7.6%52% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks6.5%15% below avg
- Tyres5.4%22% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5%35% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags2.2%39% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 5.55% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
CV joint boot split or insecure 4.08% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.96% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 3.68% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 5
Stop lamp not working 3.29% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 6
Coil spring fractured or broken 3.26% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 7
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 3% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 8
Track rod end ball joint excessively worn 2.84% of tests
Worn steering ball joints can affect steering control and safety, so repair is needed before the car is driven.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volkswagen Bora's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy16.36%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit15.29%
- Brake disc pitted or scored13.62%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive11.19%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear9.07%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion7.94%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Volkswagen Bora
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 3
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel71.4%
- Petrol28.6%
- LPG0%
- Electric0%
Most common colours
Silver, Blue, Black, Green, Red
Average engine size: 1.9 litres.
Compare
How the Volkswagen Bora compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Audi S3 | 17.5% | 45% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda Insight | 29.1% | 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volkswagen Bora | 41.4% | 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Toledo | 30% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Coupe | 48% | 18% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Cruze | 39.2% | 19% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Bravo | 48.7% | 21% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family hatchback ranked in the family hatchback reliability index, or all Volkswagen models.
Questions
Volkswagen Bora questions, answered
Is the Volkswagen Bora reliable?
On MOT results, the Volkswagen Bora is about average: it fails 41.4% of first MOT tests, 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 21 of 65 family hatchback models in our index.
What fails most on a Volkswagen Bora MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Bora are position lamp not working (5.55% of tests), cv joint boot split or insecure (4.08% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (3.96% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 21.5% of its tests.
Which Volkswagen Bora year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2001 cars do best (14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2000 cars do worst (about average for its age).
How do I check a Volkswagen Bora before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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