1997 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 304 MOT tests, the 1997 Volkswagen Sharan recorded a 74.7% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 30.6% of the time, so this is 5.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.2%) and body, structure & corrosion (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are steering rack, component mounting prescribed areas and washers — steering rack alone was recorded 23 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.1% of 60-90k cars fail, rising to 24.5% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 45.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2024, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.2% | 37 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 31 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 29 |
| 4 | Steering | 7.2% | 22 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 21 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 20 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering rack | 23 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 22 |
| 3 | Washers | 15 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 5 | Wipers | 11 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 45.4% | 138 |
| 2 | Suspension | 44.1% | 134 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.7% | 72 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.7% | 69 |
| 5 | Other defects | 20.1% | 61 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 56 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 42 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 85 | 28.2% |
| 120-150k | 74 | 23.0% |
| 150k+ | 94 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 164 | 28.7% |
| Diesel | 140 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 77 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 57 | 21.1% |
| 2024 | 32 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Sharan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.2% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (9.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1997 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 304 1997 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Volkswagen Sharan?
Suspension, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.2%).
Does the 1997 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 60-90k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 304 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.