2005 Volkswagen Bora — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 10,742 MOT tests, the 2005 Volkswagen Bora recorded a 73.4% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.8% of the time, so this is 1.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests against 11.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and joints — headlamp aim alone was recorded 898 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.3% in the 0-30k band and 27.6% in the 150k+ band, a 8.3-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 26.4% of the time against 27.5% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.7% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 1,901 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 1,280 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 1,225 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 1,123 |
| 5 | Steering | 6.7% | 717 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 478 |
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 | 898 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 724 |
| 3 | Joints | 611 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 604 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 597 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 589 |
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 | 38.4% | 4,128 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.2% | 3,463 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 2,718 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 2,319 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 1,833 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.8% | 1,592 |
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 | 57 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 510 | 17.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,376 | 24.2% |
| 90-120k | 2,434 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,558 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,802 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 9,362 | 26.4% |
| Petrol | 1,380 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,962 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 2,489 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 2,095 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 1,781 | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 1,415 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Bora
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Suspension (11.4% 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.
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 2005 Volkswagen Boras pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 10,742 2005 Volkswagen Bora MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volkswagen Bora?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 2005 Bora get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.3% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,742 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.