Used car guide

2012 Volkswagen Sharan: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Volkswagen Sharan first registered in 2012: we looked at the 6,079 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,079MOTs of 2012 cars, done in 2023–2025
69%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
8,800typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    22.7% All 2012 cars
    9.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 1.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Suspension arm4× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    7.6% All 2012 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.2% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Engine warning light3.1× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    5.2% All 2012 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1.7% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Link ball joint covers2.8× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    5.5% All 2012 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 0.9% here, against 5% of all 2012 cars. Ball joint: 1.8% here, against 5.3% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 Volkswagen Sharan MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    40% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    34% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    19% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Has the DSG had any work?
  2. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the engine warning light? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Volkswagen Sharan?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Volkswagen Sharan compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2022–Too few tests
20212,400Tyres 31%
20204,821Tyres 30%
201919,577Tyres 22%
20189,909Tyres 28%
201710,555Tyres 29%
20169,880Tyres 30%
20159,460Tyres 34%
20148,432Tyres 36%
20136,595Suspension 39%
20116,391Suspension 43%
20101,997Suspension 57%
20091,448Suspension 58%
20081,731Suspension 62%
20072,177Suspension 63%
20062,027Suspension 64%
20052,078Suspension 63%
20041,326Suspension 64%
2003815Suspension 61%
2002548Suspension 60%
2001278Suspension 58%
2000126Suspension 60%
1999–Too few tests
1998119Suspension 58%
1997–Too few tests
1996–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Sharan cars first registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score