2004 Volkswagen Bora — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Volkswagen Bora passed 73.5% of its 8,654 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 28.0% of the time, so this is 1.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 704 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 27.4% versus 13.9%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.6pp more often than petrol ones (26.9% vs 25.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 40.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 24.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 1,456 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.6% | 1,006 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 984 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 812 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.5% | 564 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 454 |
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 | 704 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 562 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 485 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 475 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 419 |
| 6 | Joints | 379 |
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 | 40.4% | 3,496 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.6% | 2,823 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.0% | 2,247 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.5% | 1,862 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 1,312 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.5% | 1,164 |
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 | 36 | 13.9% |
| 30-60k | 336 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,081 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,925 | 26.7% |
| 120-150k | 2,226 | 27.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,042 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,595 | 26.9% |
| Petrol | 2,059 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,538 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 2,098 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 1,692 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 1,298 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 1,028 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Bora
On a 2004 Bora, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.6% 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 (11.4% 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 2004 Volkswagen Boras pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 8,654 2004 Volkswagen Bora MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Bora?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (11.6%).
Does the 2004 Bora get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.9% in the 0-30k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,654 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.