2005 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,360 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Volkswagen Sharan, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 68.5% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (69.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.1% | 1,213 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 1,195 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 981 |
| 4 | Brakes | 13.1% | 834 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.6% | 356 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.0% | 315 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 845 |
| 2 | Joints | 554 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 489 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 476 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 426 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 400 |
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 | 47.2% | 3,004 |
| 2 | Brakes | 46.0% | 2,925 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 1,784 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.8% | 1,642 |
| 5 | Other defects | 19.1% | 1,214 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 828 |
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 | 32 | 28.1% |
| 30-60k | 187 | 24.1% |
| 60-90k | 591 | 29.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,287 | 32.3% |
| 120-150k | 1,612 | 33.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,645 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,774 | 31.5% |
| Petrol | 586 | 31.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,064 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 1,637 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 1,198 | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 864 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 597 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Sharan
Before buying a 2005 Volkswagen Sharan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 19.1% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (19.1% 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 (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.4% 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 2005 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
68.5% of the 6,360 2005 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Volkswagen Sharan?
Suspension, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.8%).
Does the 2005 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.1% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,360 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.