2002 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
1,860 MOT tests on the 2002 Volkswagen Sharan are in this dataset, and 67.5% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 29.8% of the time, so this is 2.7pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (20.7%) and lighting & signalling (19.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 255 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.4% in the 30-60k band and 33.8% in the 150k+ band, a 13.5-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 31.5% of the time against 33.0% for diesel.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 47.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.7% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.7% | 385 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 365 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 251 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.8% | 201 |
| 5 | Steering | 8.1% | 150 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.2% | 115 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 255 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 161 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 142 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 120 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 118 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 118 |
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 | 47.6% | 885 |
| 2 | Suspension | 46.5% | 865 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.9% | 538 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.3% | 452 |
| 5 | Other defects | 22.6% | 420 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 304 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 54 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 172 | 23.3% |
| 90-120k | 426 | 35.2% |
| 120-150k | 536 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 665 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,286 | 33.0% |
| Petrol | 574 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 688 | 34.7% |
| 2022 | 466 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 321 | 32.7% |
| 2024 | 231 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 154 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Sharan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 20.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (20.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.5% 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+.
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 2002 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 1,860 2002 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Volkswagen Sharan?
Suspension, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (19.6%).
Does the 2002 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.4% in the 30-60k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,860 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.