2000 Volkswagen Bora — MOT failures & pass rate
3,198 MOT tests on the 2000 Volkswagen Bora are in this dataset, and 72.6% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 27.7%, so the 2000 Bora sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.4% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 273 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 29.1% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 27.2% of the time against 27.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.4% | 526 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.9% | 413 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 332 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 218 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 205 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 171 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 273 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 231 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 203 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 202 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 165 |
| 6 | Wipers | 143 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 40.1% | 1,281 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.6% | 1,202 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.4% | 812 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.0% | 768 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.3% | 584 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 524 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 155 | 24.5% |
| 60-90k | 478 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 707 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 703 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 1,142 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,919 | 27.2% |
| Diesel | 1,279 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,001 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 778 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 609 | 27.4% |
| 2024 | 458 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 352 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Bora
On a 2000 Bora, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2000 Volkswagen Boras pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 3,198 2000 Volkswagen Bora MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Volkswagen Bora?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.4% of tests, followed by suspension (12.9%).
Does the 2000 Bora get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.5% in the 30-60k band to 29.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,198 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.