2008 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,729 MOT tests analysed for the 2008 Volkswagen Sharan, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 69.6% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (71.9%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.4% | 868 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 848 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 615 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.0% | 472 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 264 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 252 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 365 |
| 2 | Joints | 363 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 348 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 309 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 256 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 231 |
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 | 42.3% | 2,000 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.4% | 1,485 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.4% | 1,345 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 905 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.1% | 856 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.1% | 572 |
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 | 124 | 26.6% |
| 60-90k | 528 | 25.0% |
| 90-120k | 1,175 | 31.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,155 | 32.0% |
| 150k+ | 1,726 | 30.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,628 | 30.5% |
| Petrol | 101 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,315 | 30.4% |
| 2022 | 1,115 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 957 | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 745 | 31.7% |
| 2025 | 597 | 31.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Sharan
Before buying a 2008 Volkswagen Sharan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 18.4% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (18.4% 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 (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.0% 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 2008 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
69.6% of the 4,729 2008 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Volkswagen Sharan?
Suspension, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.9%).
Does the 2008 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.6% in the 30-60k band to 30.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,729 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.