MPV and people carrier · 1996–2021 cars

Volkswagen Sharan reliability

The Volkswagen Sharan fails 25.4% of first MOT tests, 11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 117,032 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 60/100#11 of 49 mpv and people carriers

Checking a Volkswagen Sharan before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 25.4%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 11% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 117,032; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 12,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Volkswagen Sharan ages

Each point is the share of Volkswagen Sharans of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Volkswagen SharanAll cars

Volkswagen Sharan first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Volkswagen Sharan	All cars
3	15%	12.3%
4	13.3%	14.1%
5	15.3%	16.4%
6	18.3%	19.1%
7	20.7%	22.1%
8	24.9%	25.5%
9	26.9%	28.8%
10	28.7%	31.8%
11	29.9%	34.6%
12	32.4%	37.3%
13	38.2%	39.5%
14	48.4%	41.1%
15	50.5%	42.3%
16	52.2%	42.9%
17	51.5%	43.4%
18	52.3%	43.5%
19	51.8%	43.4%
20	48.9%	42.8%
21	49.9%	41.4%
22	48.4%	40.6%

By year

The best and worst Volkswagen Sharan years

2019 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Volkswagen Sharan MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	751	13.2%	12% more fails	25,537
2020 Sharan	2,720	14.2%	3% more fails	35,195
2019 Sharan	17,953	13.4%	29% fewer fails	76,214
2018 Sharan	11,126	14.8%	18% fewer fails	52,528
2017 Sharan	11,676	17%	19% fewer fails	69,731
2016 Sharan	11,061	19.9%	18% fewer fails	83,069
2015 Sharan	10,648	23.1%	16% fewer fails	90,695
2014 Sharan	9,829	25.8%	15% fewer fails	95,680
2013 Sharan	7,645	28.2%	15% fewer fails	100,242
2012 Sharan	6,789	29.9%	16% fewer fails	99,593
2011 Sharan	7,291	30.3%	20% fewer fails	108,739
2010 Sharan	2,404	39.8%	3% fewer fails	128,239
2009 Sharan	1,707	49.6%	17% more fails	129,042
2008 Sharan	2,158	49.4%	13% more fails	134,120
2007 Sharan	2,862	50.5%	13% more fails	137,427
2006 Sharan	2,737	53.2%	17% more fails	137,853
2005 Sharan	2,760	51%	13% more fails	140,503
2004 Sharan	1,865	50.7%	11% more fails	145,895
2003 Sharan	1,230	52.2%	15% more fails	144,139
2002	826	49.3%	10% more fails	132,225
2001	416	46.2%	6% more fails	128,102

Common problems

What fails most on a Volkswagen Sharan

Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 35% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Suspension9.2%6% above avg
Lights and electrics8.8%24% below avg
Tyres7.3%10% above avg
Brakes4.7%30% below avg
Body, chassis and structure3.6%12% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks3.2%4% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors3%35% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.4%35% above avg
Steering1.4%28% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 3.23% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Tyre ply or cords exposed 2.27% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
3
Position lamp not working 2.09% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.09% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 1.34% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
6
CV joint boot split or insecure 1.28% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
7
Diesel engine warning light faulty 1.19% of tests
A lit or non-working engine warning light can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
8
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.18% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volkswagen Sharan's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit16.47%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear11.27%
Brake disc pitted or scored7.83%
Brake pads wearing thin6.46%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.05%
Engine oil leak, not excessive3.35%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Volkswagen Sharan

1
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
2
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
3
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Volkswagen Sharan covers about 12,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel87.7%
Petrol12.3%
LPG0%
Other0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Black, Grey, Silver, Blue, White

Average engine size: 1.9 litres.

Compare

How the Volkswagen Sharan compares with its rivals

Volkswagen Sharan against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Volkswagen Sharan	25.4%	11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Toyota Verso	27.6%	8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Alhambra	26%	4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Galaxy	36.9%	8% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Grand C-Max	31%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Scenic	44.1%	27% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Renault Grand Scenic	46.3%	33% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every mpv and people carrier ranked in the mpv and people carrier reliability index, or all Volkswagen models.

Questions

Volkswagen Sharan questions, answered

Is the Volkswagen Sharan reliable?

On MOT results, the Volkswagen Sharan is about average: it fails 25.4% of first MOT tests, 11% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 11 of 49 mpv and people carrier models in our index.

What fails most on a Volkswagen Sharan MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen Sharan are suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (3.23% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (2.27% of tests), position lamp not working (2.09% of tests). By area, suspension fails 9.2% of its tests.

Which Volkswagen Sharan year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2019 cars do best (29% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (17% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Volkswagen Sharan do a year?

A typical Volkswagen Sharan covers about 12,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Volkswagen Sharan before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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