2002 Volkswagen Bora — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,884 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Volkswagen Bora, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 73.9% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (74.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.7% in the 150k+ group versus 12.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 1,091 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.4% | 857 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 691 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 652 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.7% | 389 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.6% | 385 |
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 | 504 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 396 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 365 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 347 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 321 |
| 6 | Joints | 300 |
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 | 41.2% | 2,838 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.1% | 2,483 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.9% | 1,851 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.6% | 1,419 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 17.3% | 1,189 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.6% | 1,145 |
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 | 48 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 241 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 851 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,346 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,472 | 26.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,912 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,501 | 26.3% |
| Petrol | 2,383 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,112 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 1,640 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 1,293 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 1,022 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 817 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Bora
Before buying a 2002 Volkswagen Bora, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.4% 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.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 2002 Volkswagen Boras pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 6,884 2002 Volkswagen Bora MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volkswagen Bora?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.8% of tests, followed by suspension (12.4%).
Does the 2002 Bora get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,884 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.