2004 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,382 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Volkswagen Sharan, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 66.9% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (69.4%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.7% | 907 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 19.5% | 853 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.4% | 763 |
| 4 | Brakes | 13.2% | 580 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 274 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.0% | 263 |
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 | 689 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 395 |
| 3 | Joints | 393 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 389 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 353 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 308 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 48.5% | 2,126 |
| 2 | Brakes | 47.6% | 2,088 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.5% | 1,294 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.7% | 1,257 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.6% | 816 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 722 |
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 | 90 | 30.0% |
| 60-90k | 350 | 28.0% |
| 90-120k | 816 | 33.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,144 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 1,955 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,972 | 33.2% |
| Petrol | 410 | 31.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,515 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 1,189 | 34.7% |
| 2023 | 759 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 552 | 32.6% |
| 2025 | 367 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Sharan
Before buying a 2004 Volkswagen Sharan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 20.7% of tests for this year.
- 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 (19.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (17.4% 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 2004 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 4,382 2004 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Volkswagen Sharan?
Suspension, recorded in 20.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (19.5%).
Does the 2004 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.0% in the 30-60k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,382 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.