Used car guide

2005 Volkswagen Sharan petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volkswagen Sharan first registered in 2005 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 220 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 220 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

220MOTs of 2005 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
51%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 57%)
5,200typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for shock absorbers

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2005 Volkswagen Sharan petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2005 Volkswagen Sharan petrol than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Shock absorbers2.2× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    15% All 2005 cars
    6.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.7% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Common 2005 Volkswagen Sharan petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2005 Volkswagen Sharan petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% 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.

  • Brakes
    41% 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
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    29% 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.

  • Rust and bodywork
    22% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2005 Volkswagen Sharan petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2005 Volkswagen Sharan petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. 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
20212,396Tyres 31%
20204,821Tyres 30%
201919,577Tyres 22%
20189,909Tyres 28%
201710,555Tyres 29%
20169,880Tyres 30%
20159,460Tyres 34%
20148,432Tyres 36%
20136,592Suspension 39%
20126,079Suspension 40%
20116,389Suspension 43%
20101,997Suspension 57%
20091,435Suspension 58%
20081,719Suspension 62%
20072,173Suspension 63%
20062,027Suspension 64%
20041,326Suspension 64%
2003815Suspension 61%
2002548Suspension 60%
2001274Suspension 58%
2000104Suspension 60%
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 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Volkswagen Sharan cars first registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score