2001 Volkswagen Bora — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2001 Volkswagen Bora passed 74.8% of its 3,942 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.7 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests against 12.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, headlamp and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 292 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 26.4% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 25.2% of the time against 25.2% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.1% in 2021 to 24.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 606 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.0% | 474 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 380 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 327 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 226 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.8% | 189 |
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 | 292 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 222 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 193 |
| 4 | Joints | 184 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 174 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 146 |
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 | 39.2% | 1,545 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.3% | 1,392 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 1,061 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.8% | 780 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 741 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 610 |
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 | 195 | 21.5% |
| 60-90k | 535 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 792 | 25.1% |
| 120-150k | 945 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 1,448 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,278 | 25.2% |
| Petrol | 1,658 | 25.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,221 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 898 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 720 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 607 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 496 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Bora
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.0% 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 (9.6% 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 2001 Volkswagen Boras pass their MOT?
74.8% of the 3,942 2001 Volkswagen Bora MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Volkswagen Bora?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by suspension (12.0%).
Does the 2001 Bora get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.5% in the 30-60k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,942 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.