2016 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Volkswagen Sharan passed 86.9% of its 19,187 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 15.2%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and suspension (4.5%) 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 headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 954 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.0% versus 8.2%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.6% of the time against 13.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 1,223 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 866 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 705 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 514 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 370 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 365 |
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 | 954 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 620 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 371 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 360 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 331 |
| 6 | Wipers | 290 |
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 | 25.0% | 4,792 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.9% | 3,619 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.1% | 3,082 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 1,857 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 695 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 412 |
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 | 917 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 5,157 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,792 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,789 | 13.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,876 | 12.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,654 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,647 | 13.2% |
| Petrol | 540 | 12.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,805 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 3,882 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 3,924 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 3,855 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 3,721 | 14.4% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Sharan
On a 2016 Sharan, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.4% 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 (4.5% 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 (3.7% 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 2016 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 19,187 2016 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Volkswagen Sharan?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by suspension (4.5%).
Does the 2016 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,187 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.