2005 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Volkswagen Sharan passed 68.5% of its 6,360 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), the 2005 Sharan comes out 1.5pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.1%) and lighting & signalling (18.8%) 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, joints and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 845 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Sharan fails 28.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 31.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 31.5% of the time against 31.6% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 47.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.1% | 1,213 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 1,195 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 981 |
| 4 | Brakes | 13.1% | 834 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 356 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.0% | 315 |
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 | 845 |
| 2 | Joints | 554 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 489 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 476 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 426 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 400 |
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 | 47.2% | 3,004 |
| 2 | Brakes | 46.0% | 2,925 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 1,784 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.8% | 1,642 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.1% | 1,214 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 828 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 32 | 28.1% |
| 30-60k | 187 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 591 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,287 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,612 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,645 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,774 | 31.5% |
| Petrol | 586 | 31.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,064 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 1,637 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 1,198 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 864 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 597 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Sharan
On a 2005 Sharan, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (19.1% 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 (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.4% 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 2005 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
68.5% of the 6,360 2005 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volkswagen Sharan?
Suspension, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.8%).
Does the 2005 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,360 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.