2004 Volkswagen Bora MOT pass rate: 66.8% (3,132 tests)
Is the 2004 Bora getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65.6% +1.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 66.2% +2.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 69.4% +4.1 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 2004 Bora
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 951 | 22.8% |
| 2 | Brakes | 868 | 20.8% |
| 3 | Suspension | 722 | 17.3% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 561 | 13.5% |
| 5 | Steering | 353 | 8.5% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 254 | 6.1% |
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 | 2,940 | 67.3% | +2.3 pts | 144,838 |
| 2004 (this page) | 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 2004 Volkswagen Bora reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 66.8% of their MOT tests (3,132 tests, 2023–2025), +2.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 134,255 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Bora?
The median tested example shows 134,255 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.