2017 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
20,098 MOT tests on the 2017 Volkswagen Sharan are in this dataset, and 88.1% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 13.6% of the time, so this is 1.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.1%) and suspension (3.8%) 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 brake pads — pins and bushes alone was recorded 987 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2017 Sharan fails 9.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.8% of the time against 11.9% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 1,232 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.8% | 755 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 711 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 467 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 369 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 275 |
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 | 987 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 539 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 342 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 330 |
| 5 | Wipers | 295 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 251 |
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 | 23.9% | 4,814 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.1% | 3,239 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.9% | 2,790 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.6% | 1,725 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 621 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 250 |
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 | 2,077 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,454 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 4,614 | 12.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,531 | 12.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,668 | 11.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,753 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,628 | 11.9% |
| Petrol | 1,470 | 11.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,009 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 4,047 | 11.3% |
| 2023 | 4,057 | 11.7% |
| 2024 | 4,001 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 3,984 | 13.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Sharan
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 (3.8% 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 (3.5% 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 2017 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 20,098 2017 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Volkswagen Sharan?
Tyres, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by suspension (3.8%).
Does the 2017 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,098 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.