2018 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 18,544 MOT tests, the 2018 Volkswagen Sharan recorded an 89.8% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (12.2% fail rate), the 2018 Sharan comes out 2.0pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.5%) and lighting & signalling (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 534 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Sharan fails 9.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.4% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 9.9% of the time against 11.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.5% | 1,021 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 556 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.7% | 506 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 387 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 360 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 158 |
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 | 534 |
| 2 | Wipers | 525 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 446 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 330 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 283 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 137 |
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 | 23.4% | 4,342 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 2,339 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.5% | 2,138 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.2% | 1,700 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 573 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 224 |
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 | 4,142 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,832 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 3,435 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,698 | 9.1% |
| 120-150k | 1,037 | 9.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,399 | 8.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 15,385 | 9.9% |
| Petrol | 3,159 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,699 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 3,723 | 9.2% |
| 2023 | 3,724 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 3,719 | 11.2% |
| 2025 | 3,679 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Sharan
On a 2018 Sharan, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2018 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 18,544 2018 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Volkswagen Sharan?
Tyres, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.0%).
Does the 2018 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 8.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,544 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.