2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Volkswagen Sharan MOT pass rate and common faults

1,976 MOT tests in 2024. 68.2% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time68.2%
Failed or needed repairs31.8%
Typical mileage at test106,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,976 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.8%
  2. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed4.6%
    148 marked dangerous
  3. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.9%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
    89 marked dangerous
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.0%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
    62 marked dangerous
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.0%
  8. Side repeaters: not working1.8%
  9. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.5%
  10. Anti-roll bars - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension16.5%
  2. Lights & electrics13.6%
  3. Tyres11.4%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.2%
  5. Brakes5.5%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.9%
  7. Body & chassis2.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.5%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn18.3%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.7%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.2%
  5. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened7.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

In 2024, 68.2% of 2012 Volkswagen Sharan cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,976 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).