2003 Volkswagen Bora — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,119 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Volkswagen Bora, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.7% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (74.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.7% in the 150k+ group versus 13.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 1,447 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.8% | 959 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.4% | 842 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.0% | 732 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.4% | 517 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 420 |
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 | 745 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 586 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 523 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 448 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 387 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 348 |
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 | 41.5% | 3,369 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.6% | 2,889 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 2,186 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.7% | 1,679 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 1,400 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.6% | 1,264 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 45 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 241 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 896 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,497 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,916 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,522 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,647 | 26.4% |
| Petrol | 2,472 | 26.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,409 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 1,952 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 1,559 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 1,221 | 25.5% |
| 2025 | 978 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Bora
Before buying a 2003 Volkswagen Bora, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.8% 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 2003 Volkswagen Boras pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 8,119 2003 Volkswagen Bora MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Volkswagen Bora?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (11.8%).
Does the 2003 Bora get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,119 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.