Used car guide

2012 Volkswagen Sharan petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Volkswagen Sharan first registered in 2012 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 1,267 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,267MOTs of 2012 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
80%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for link ball joint covers

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

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

  • Link ball joint covers2.1× usual
    Volkswagen Sharan
    4.5% All 2012 cars
    2.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.2% 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

Engine oil leaks: 2.5% here, against 6.2% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 Volkswagen Sharan petrol MOT failures and advisories

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

  • Tyres
    23% 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.

  • Suspension
    21% 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
    16% 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
    10% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    5% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    3% 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 2012 Volkswagen Sharan petrol

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 petrol

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 link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. 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%
20116,389Suspension 43%
20101,997Suspension 57%
20091,435Suspension 58%
20081,719Suspension 62%
20072,173Suspension 63%
20062,027Suspension 64%
20052,078Suspension 63%
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 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score