Reliability report
Volkswagen Sharan reliability and common faults
Based on 137,657 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
19.4%
fail rate · average 21.4%
better than average
34,132 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
50.9%
with defects · average 51.7%
about average
9,528 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
44.0%
first-time pass · average 42.5%
better than average
93,997 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Volkswagen Sharan
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Wheelsconfirmed in 2 countries
Body and structure
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Suspensionconfirmed in 2 countries
Tyres
Plates and identification
Lights and electrics
Brakes
Visibility
Steering
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre insufficient tread
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 4Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 5Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 6Sidelight not working (properly)
- 7Tyre damaged
- 8Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 9Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 10Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 11Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 12Rear light not working (properly)
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 12.0% avg 9.9% | — |
| 6–8 years | 11.5% avg 15.3% | 36.4% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 20.0% avg 22.9% | 42.2% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 27.9% avg 30.3% | 52.4% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 40.5% avg 34.6% | 73.0% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 39.8% avg 31.4% | 77.2% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Sharan | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 74.5% | 83.2% | 51 |
| 2018 | 80.6% | 79.5% | 67 |
| 2017 | 77.3% | 76.6% | 167 |
| 2016 | 82.0% | 72.8% | 267 |
| 2015 | 80.3% | 71.1% | 569 |
| 2014 | 77.9% | 68.0% | 584 |
| 2013 | 76.3% | 65.9% | 730 |
| 2012 | 75.2% | 63.7% | 1,239 |
| 2011 | 72.6% | 61.2% | 2,057 |
| 2010 | 59.0% | 57.3% | 865 |
| 2009 | 45.5% | 54.5% | 1,042 |
| 2008 | 46.8% | 52.4% | 1,773 |
| 2007 | 44.9% | 50.6% | 2,778 |
| 2006 | 45.7% | 48.7% | 3,533 |
| 2005 | 45.2% | 46.6% | 3,500 |
Volkswagen Sharan – FAQs
How reliable is the Volkswagen Sharan?+
In the UK the Volkswagen Sharan fails 19.4% of MOT tests, against an average of 21.4% for cars of the same age – better than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 50.9% of APK inspections (average there 51.7%) – about average. In Lithuania 44.0% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 42.5%) – better than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Volkswagen Sharan?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, body and structure, seat belts and airbags, exhaust and emissions.
What should I check when buying a used Volkswagen Sharan?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Excessive leakage of other fluids. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Volkswagen models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).