Does the Volkswagen Bora fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Volkswagen Bora records 46.39 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 39.76 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+6.63, 95% interval +6.08 to +7.18). It ranks 121 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Volkswagen Bora by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Volkswagen Bora is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 5,426 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 5,426 | 9.33 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 4,528 | 7.79 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,971 | 5.11 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 2,144 | 3.69 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,627 | 2.80 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 58,126 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Volkswagen Bora gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
33.3% of Volkswagen Bora MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,484 miles later (2,718 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,718 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Volkswagen Bora 1999 · Volkswagen Bora 2000 · Volkswagen Bora 2001 · Volkswagen Bora 2002 · Volkswagen Bora 2003 · Volkswagen Bora 2004 · Volkswagen Bora 2005 · Volkswagen Bora 2006 · Volkswagen Bora in Finland · Volkswagen Bora in the Netherlands · Volkswagen Bora by postcode area · Volkswagen Bora body, chassis and structure failures · Volkswagen Bora brakes failures · Volkswagen Bora vehicle identification failures · Volkswagen Bora noise, emissions and leaks failures · Volkswagen Bora road wheels failures · Volkswagen Bora seat belts and airbags failures · Volkswagen Bora steering failures · Volkswagen Bora suspension failures · Volkswagen Bora tyres failures · Volkswagen Bora visibility failures