2003 Volkswagen Bora MOT pass rate: 67.3% (2,940 tests)
Is the 2003 Bora getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65.7% +1.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 68.0% +3.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 69.0% +2.8 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 Bora
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 936 | 25.4% |
| 2 | Brakes | 680 | 18.4% |
| 3 | Suspension | 679 | 18.4% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 432 | 11.7% |
| 5 | Steering | 271 | 7.3% |
| 6 | Tyres | 238 | 6.4% |
All Bora years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2,456 | 67.6% | +2.0 pts | 139,138 |
| 2003 (this page) | 2,940 | 67.3% | +2.3 pts | 144,838 |
| 2004 | 3,132 | 66.8% | +2.5 pts | 134,255 |
| 2005 | 4,111 | 66.7% | +2.2 pts | 134,452 |
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Volkswagen Bora reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 67.3% of their MOT tests (2,940 tests, 2023–2025), +2.3 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 144,838 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 Bora?
The median tested example shows 144,838 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.