Used car guide

2013 Volkswagen Sharan: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Volkswagen Sharan first registered in 2013: we looked at the 2,117 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,117MOTs of 2013 cars, done in 2025
68%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
9,300typical miles a year
2.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2013 Volkswagen Sharan?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2013 Volkswagen Sharan than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.9× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    24.8% All 2013 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 1.8% of all 2013 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 arm3.5× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    6.9% All 2013 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2013 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.

  • Link ball joint covers2.9× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    5.7% All 2013 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.1% of all 2013 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.

  • Engine warning light2.7× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    4.3% All 2013 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 1.6% of all 2013 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.

Better than most

Track rod ends: 1.1% here, against 4.8% of all 2013 cars. Exhaust system: 1% here, against 4.6% of all 2013 cars.

Common 2013 Volkswagen Sharan MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2013 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% 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
    37% 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
    16% 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
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2013 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 2013 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 2.9× as often on the 2013 Volkswagen Sharan as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2013 Volkswagen Sharan as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the 2013 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
20211,160Tyres 29%
20201,622Tyres 27%
20196,557Tyres 24%
20183,298Tyres 28%
20173,479Tyres 30%
20163,220Suspension 29%
20153,109Suspension 36%
20142,708Suspension 39%
20122,040Suspension 46%
20112,086Suspension 46%
2010602Suspension 61%
2009393Suspension 61%
2008459Suspension 64%
2007533Suspension 67%
2006468Suspension 67%
2005474Suspension 65%
2004297Suspension 66%
2003187Suspension 65%
2002124Suspension 64%
2001–Too few tests
2000–Too few tests
1999–Too few tests
1998–Too few tests
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 2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Sharan cars first registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score