Volkswagen Bora (1999)
1999 Volkswagen Bora
CarHunch analysed 7,423 real MOT records for the 1999 Volkswagen Bora. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1999 Volkswagen Bora trails the UK average pass rate by 10 percentage points at 70%, which is a meaningful concern—and it's worse when you learn that 27.6% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect during their MOT history. Petrol and diesel variants fail at identical rates, so fuel choice won't help you sidestep reliability issues here.
At 91,170 miles median and 104,057 average, these Boras are running higher mileage than you'd typically expect for a car of this age, yet they're still generating 3.76 failures per test and 15.3 advisories, suggesting wear and corrosion are real problems rather than outliers. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on structural rust, brakes, and suspension—the advisory count hints these aren't light wear items.
What to check before buying a 1999 Volkswagen Bora
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 27.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Volkswagen Bora
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (67%) | 5,003 | 70% | 3.69 |
| Diesel (33%) | 2,416 | 70% | 3.92 |
| LPG (0%) | 4 | 62.1% | 5.5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 Volkswagen Bora vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1999 Volkswagen Bora vehicles fall between 74,928 and 109,723 miles.
1999 Volkswagen Bora — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 163 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 Volkswagen Bora
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
69.9%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
67.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
53.1%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
50%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
36.3%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
-
35.6%
Oil leak
-
34.7%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
-
27.4%
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Volkswagen Bora?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.