2014 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,375 MOT tests, the 2014 Volkswagen Sharan recorded an 82.4% pass rate. That is 1.3 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 18.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.5%) and suspension (7.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, tread depth and malfunction indicator lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 1,319 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 18.5% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 8.2pp more often than petrol ones (17.9% vs 9.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.5% | 1,307 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 1,295 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 1,091 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 594 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.8% | 488 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 444 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 1,319 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 650 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 488 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 403 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 319 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 319 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.4% | 5,110 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.4% | 4,237 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.6% | 3,234 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.9% | 1,899 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 1,099 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 830 |
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 | 216 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,577 | 14.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,024 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,589 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,126 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,842 | 18.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,759 | 17.9% |
| Petrol | 616 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,613 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 3,541 | 17.0% |
| 2023 | 3,531 | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 3,389 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 3,301 | 19.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Sharan
On a 2014 Sharan, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.5% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Suspension (7.4% 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 (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2014 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
82.4% of the 17,375 2014 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Volkswagen Sharan?
Tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by suspension (7.4%).
Does the 2014 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 18.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,375 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.