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MOT statistics · 2023 tests

Volkswagen Bora MOT pass rate, common failures and mileage

In 2023, 65.4% of 6,736 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Bora ended in a pass, 11.1 points below the 76.5% average for all cars.

Pass rate
65.4%
All cars 76.5%
Tests
6,736
Initial MOTs in 2023
Mileage at 17
135k
Median; middle half 101k to 169k

Pass rate and mileage by age

Each row covers the Volkswagen Bora MOT tests at that age. Mileage shows the median and the middle half of odometer readings, from the 25th to the 75th percentile.

AgePass rateMileage
171,011 tests
65.0%
135,000 · 101k to 169k
181,476 tests
65.0%
131,000 · 99k to 165k
191,199 tests
64.3%
139,000 · 105k to 171k
201,183 tests
66.9%
145,000 · 107k to 177k
21832 tests
66.0%
135,000 · 99k to 179k
22508 tests
70.5%
131,000 · 97k to 169k
23395 tests
62.3%
125,000 · 97k to 163k
Bora pass rateAll cars at that ageMiddle half of mileages

Most common MOT failures and advisories

How often each item came up, per 100 MOT tests on the Volkswagen Bora. Advisories are things the tester noted that did not fail the car, often wear that will need attention soon. Follow an item to see what it means and how serious it is.

Failures

Side and tail lights
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
6.2in 100 tests
Headlight aim
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
4.9in 100 tests
Suspension and drive joints
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
4.4in 100 tests
Brake lights
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
3.9in 100 tests
Brake performance
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
3.8in 100 tests
Coil springs
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
3.8in 100 tests
Track rod ends
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
3.2in 100 tests
Suspension joints
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
2.9in 100 tests

Advisories and minor defects

Brake pipes
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
18.5in 100 tests
Brake discs
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
16.1in 100 tests
Engine oil leaks
Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
12.6in 100 tests
Coil springs
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
9.3in 100 tests
Tyres
A tyre seriously damaged
8.2in 100 tests
Suspension and drive joints
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated (minor defect)
7.9in 100 tests
Number plates
Number plate inscription missing or illegible
7.3in 100 tests
Brake pads
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
5.3in 100 tests

What to check on a used Bora

The parts that come up most often in Volkswagen Bora MOTs, and how to look at them on a viewing.

  1. Brake pipes and hoses
    Look underneath at the metal brake pipes for heavy rust, and at the rubber hoses for cracks or bulges.
  2. Brake discs and pads
    Ask when the discs and pads were last replaced, and look through the wheel for a raised lip on the edge of the disc.
  3. Oil leaks
    Look under the engine and gearbox, and at the ground where the car was parked, for fresh oil.
  4. Coil springs
    Compare the gap between each tyre and its wheel arch. A corner sitting lower than the others can mean a broken spring.
  5. Tyres
    Check the tread across the full width of every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts and bulges in the sidewalls.

Check a specific Bora

Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate of the Volkswagen Bora?
In 2023, 65.4% of 6,736 initial MOT tests on the Volkswagen Bora ended in a pass, against 76.5% for all cars and light vans.
What fails most often on a Volkswagen Bora MOT?
The most common failures were side and tail lights (6.2 in 100 tests), headlight aim (4.9 in 100 tests), suspension and drive joints (4.4 in 100 tests).
What is a normal mileage for a 17-year-old Volkswagen Bora?
At 17 years old, the median Volkswagen Bora at its MOT had covered 135,000 miles, and the middle half had between 101,000 and 169,000 miles.
What do MOT testers most often advise on a Volkswagen Bora?
The most common advisories were brake pipes (18.5 in 100 tests), brake discs (16.1 in 100 tests), engine oil leaks (12.6 in 100 tests).

Other Volkswagen models

Overall MOT pass rate in 2023. Compare all Volkswagen models or see every make.

Golf77.9%Polo73.1%Transporter72.8%Tiguan84.6%Passat75.0%Caddy74.4%up!86.3%Touran71.9%Crafter72.3%T-Roc93.1%Scirocco74.3%Beetle64.1%Sharan79.0%Touareg79.3%Fox61.1%Amarok82.0%Caravelle69.2%Jetta69.7%CC77.2%Eos69.1%California84.9%LT59.9%Lupo66.3%Bora65.4%Arteon87.9%

How these figures are made. We counted every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 from the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Pass rate is the share of initial tests that ended in a pass, counting faults fixed during the test. Age is whole years from first registration to the test, so a car having its first MOT a few weeks early counts as 2.

Like-for-like pass rates average each model's pass rate at ages 3 to 10 with the same age mix for every model, so a model is not flattered by a young fleet or penalised by an old one. Models are grouped by the first word of the DVSA model name, and names that cover several models are left out.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.