1999 Volkswagen Bora diesel: common problems and MOT failures
What MOT testers find on the diesel Volkswagen Bora first registered in 1999 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 123 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: there were only 123 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What goes wrong more than usual on a 1999 Volkswagen Bora diesel?
Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1999 Volkswagen Bora diesel than on all cars registered in 1999.
- Tread depth2.2× usualVolkswagen Bora27.6% All 1999 cars12.4%
Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.5% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.
Rough price £70–£150 our estimateAt the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Common 1999 Volkswagen Bora diesel MOT failures and advisories
The share of 1999 Volkswagen Bora diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Suspension53% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
- Brakes49% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Tyres35% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Lights and electrics34% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Exhaust and emissions23% of testsRough price £100–£1,200
At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors11% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1999 Volkswagen Bora diesel
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Any recent work on the tread depth? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 1999 Volkswagen Bora diesel as on other cars the same age.)
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
Looking at a Volkswagen Bora?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
Every year of the Volkswagen Bora compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 570 | Brakes 47% |
| 2005 | 4,156 | Suspension 48% |
| 2004 | 3,161 | Suspension 49% |
| 2003 | 2,970 | Suspension 49% |
| 2002 | 2,476 | Suspension 50% |
| 2001 | 1,460 | Suspension 44% |
| 2000 | 1,098 | Suspension 52% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Bora cars first registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score