Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Volkswagen Sharan vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

42% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,519 vehicles, the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (50.6% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (40% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Volkswagen Sharan (2012)

2,519 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82% first-time pass rate

2012 Volkswagen Sharan

CarHunch analysed 2,519 real MOT records for the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Volkswagen Sharan's 82% first-time pass rate edges slightly above the UK average, but there's a serious reliability split: petrol versions pass at 88.4% while diesel models lag at just 80.2%, and a concerning 42.2% of vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point. Diesel buyers especially should factor in additional inspection costs and repair risk.

At 86,457 miles average for a 12-year-old model, these Sharans show typical wear patterns, yet they're racking up 2.44 failures and 16.7 advisories per test on average—suggesting wear-and-tear maintenance is routine rather than exceptional. Before buying, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection with particular attention to diesel engine condition, and budget for regular replacement of wear items like brake pads and suspension components.

The 2012 Volkswagen Sharan has a decent first-time pass rate (82%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

82%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

42.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.44

Over 11.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

85k

Middle half: 67k–109k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,519 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,519 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 54.1%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 40%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 25.9%

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 22.9%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,519 Volkswagen Sharan cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 8.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

88.4%

Petrol

546 vehicles

80.2%

Diesel

1,972 vehicles

Before you buy a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan

Based on MOT data from 2,519 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (78%)	1,972	80.2%	2.94
Petrol (22%)	546	88.4%	0.63

Colour Breakdown

Based on 83,093 Volkswagen Sharan vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 24.5%

20,351

Blue 23%

19,148

Black 20.9%

17,385

Grey 15%

12,426

Green 7%

5,832

Red 5.4%

4,467

White 3.4%

2,807

Brown 0.5%

396

Gold 0.2%

205

Beige 0.1%

Maroon 0%

Purple 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Volkswagen Sharan vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

84,696

typical

66,611

low mileage

109,009

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Volkswagen Sharan vehicles fall between 66,611 and 109,009 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 66,611 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 66,611–109,009 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Volkswagen Sharans sit.

⚠ Over 147,162 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Volkswagen Sharan — Still on the Road

Almost all 2012 Volkswagen Sharans are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,941 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

11.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.44

Avg failures per vehicle

16.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Volkswagen Sharan: All Sharan years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing