Volkswagen Sharan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Sharan car check
Is the Volkswagen Sharan reliable? We analysed 1,070,633 real MOT tests across 83,957 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Sharan? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Sharan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Sharan.
Volkswagen Sharan Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Sharan. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Sharan MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Sharan to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Sharan Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Sharan fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volkswagen Sharan Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Sharan owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Sharan MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Sharan year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 145 | 84.8% | 27,430 | 37,826 | 61,306 |
| 2021 | 3,221 | 87.2% | 19,456 | 29,638 | 42,709 |
| 2020 | 5,352 | 87.4% | 23,344 | 35,672 | 52,403 |
| 2019 | 35,667 | 87.2% | 37,600 | 67,722 | 117,172 |
| 2018 | 22,113 | 87.1% | 30,622 | 49,974 | 82,715 |
| 2017 | 29,127 | 86.0% | 36,515 | 59,663 | 99,353 |
| 2016 | 31,321 | 84.7% | 40,461 | 66,088 | 110,273 |
| 2015 | 36,946 | 82.6% | 44,638 | 71,816 | 112,555 |
| 2014 | 38,451 | 81.4% | 48,696 | 76,458 | 116,656 |
| 2013 | 32,531 | 80.2% | 51,415 | 80,117 | 119,300 |
| 2012 | 30,797 | 79.1% | 54,545 | 82,832 | 119,032 |
| 2011 | 34,729 | 78.2% | 57,217 | 87,091 | 123,696 |
| 2010 | 19,248 | 73.3% | 60,124 | 97,013 | 142,247 |
| 2009 | 20,213 | 71.0% | 60,788 | 99,106 | 143,957 |
| 2008 | 35,979 | 70.6% | 70,236 | 108,965 | 157,241 |
| 2007 | 66,155 | 69.9% | 71,143 | 109,096 | 154,112 |
| 2006 | 66,673 | 69.3% | 70,770 | 106,508 | 148,108 |
| 2005 | 79,351 | 69.4% | 66,958 | 102,609 | 144,021 |
| 2004 | 63,325 | 68.7% | 67,932 | 102,826 | 142,382 |
| 2003 | 65,854 | 68.7% | 69,253 | 102,567 | 139,354 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Sharan Last?
Based on 83,957 Volkswagen Sharan vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Sharan Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Sharan
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.4% MOT pass rate from 5,352 tests
63.6% MOT pass rate from 2,881 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Sharan is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.4% across 5,352 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Sharan Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Sharan THIS CAR | 72.1% | 1,070,633 | 99,516 mi | 30 yrs |
| Volkswagen Golf | 74.9% | 22,270,993 | 83,305 mi | 37 yrs |
| Volkswagen Polo | 72.9% | 14,598,296 | 60,351 mi | 35 yrs |
| Volkswagen Passat | 73.5% | 6,960,690 | 105,632 mi | 32 yrs |
| Peugeot Bipper | 72.9% | 381,653 | 79,989 mi | 18 yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Sharan trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Sharan you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volkswagen SharanShould you buy a used Volkswagen Sharan?
The Volkswagen Sharan has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.1% across 1,070,633 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Volkswagen Sharan are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (37,436 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (30,096), and brake pipe excessively corroded (25,789). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Volkswagen Sharan owner drives around 9,212 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Sharan models stay on UK roads for around 30 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.