Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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 2016 Volkswagen Sharan vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

41% 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 2016 Volkswagen Sharan reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,921 vehicles, the 2016 Volkswagen Sharan has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Sharan?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2016 Volkswagen Sharan are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (48.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (46.5% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (28.9% 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 2016 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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Volkswagen Sharan (2016)

2,921 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.9% first-time pass rate

2016 Volkswagen Sharan

CarHunch analysed 2,921 real MOT records for the 2016 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Volkswagen Sharan passes its MOT first time at 85.8%, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, which is a positive sign for overall reliability. However, 41.3% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly higher than typical and should concern any prospective buyer — this suggests structural, brake, or steering issues are more common than average.

At a median mileage of 63,526 miles for an eight-year-old van, these Sharans have been used fairly hard, yet they average 1.57 failures per MOT and rack up 11.7 advisories, indicating wear is being managed reasonably well. Before buying one, obtain its full MOT history and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brake system, suspension, and steering components where the dangerous defect failures cluster.

The 2016 Volkswagen Sharan has a decent first-time pass rate (85.9%), 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

85.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

41.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.57

Over 10.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

64k

Middle half: 45k–93k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 11.7 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 2,921 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 2,921 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 48.9%

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 28.9%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear 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 22%

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 13.1%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,921 Volkswagen Sharan cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Volkswagen Sharan

Based on MOT data from 2,921 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 41.3% 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 (96%)	2,805	85.7%	1.6
Petrol (4%)	115	88.3%	0.97

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 2016 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.

63,526

typical

45,258

low mileage

93,485

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Volkswagen Sharan vehicles fall between 45,258 and 93,485 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 45,258 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.

✓ 45,258–93,485 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Volkswagen Sharans sit.

⚠ Over 126,204 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Volkswagen Sharan — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Volkswagen Sharans are still on the road.

Strong survival — 2,686 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 96% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* 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

10.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.57

Avg failures per vehicle

11.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Or browse all models: Volkswagen →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Volkswagen Sharan stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing