2006 Volkswagen Sharan — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,077 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Volkswagen Sharan, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 67.3% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (70.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.2% in the 150k+ group versus 22.9% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.3% | 1,232 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 18.9% | 1,149 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 964 |
| 4 | Brakes | 13.3% | 806 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.0% | 367 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.7% | 285 |
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 | 793 |
| 2 | Joints | 557 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 476 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 420 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 392 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 391 |
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 | 47.3% | 2,876 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.2% | 2,324 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.0% | 1,699 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.6% | 1,492 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.1% | 1,101 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.1% | 738 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 109 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 613 | 30.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,377 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 1,763 | 35.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,205 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,823 | 32.5% |
| Petrol | 254 | 35.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,927 | 32.4% |
| 2022 | 1,526 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 1,196 | 33.5% |
| 2024 | 840 | 34.3% |
| 2025 | 588 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Sharan
Before buying a 2006 Volkswagen Sharan, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 20.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (20.3% 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 (18.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.9% 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 2006 Volkswagen Sharans pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 6,077 2006 Volkswagen Sharan MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Volkswagen Sharan?
Suspension, recorded in 20.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (18.9%).
Does the 2006 Sharan get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.9% in the 30-60k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,077 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.