Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 (7N) Common Problems & Reliability
The second Sharan arrived in UK showrooms in November 2010 and is a different car from the Ford-era original: shorter, lower, on the Passat (B6/B7) platform, with sliding rear doors, three individual rear seats and up to 2,297 litres of load space. The UK range ran 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TSI petrols with 138hp and 168hp 2.0 TDI diesels, a six-speed manual or DSG automatic, and S, SE, SEL and Executive trim; the 197hp 2.0 TSI was dropped within a couple of years. A mild refresh in October 2015 brought Euro 6 engines and more standard kit. Auto Express's used guide calls the mechanicals strong and reports only one recall in seven years, while RAC's two generation guides flag electrical niggles - slow satellite navigation, dead Bluetooth, glitchy powered sliding doors - and quote What Car? giving the Sharan a surprisingly low 78 per cent reliability score. Cheap for the space it offers, but diesel-era cars need emissions and service paperwork.
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Detailed fault breakdown, symptoms, and estimated repair bills by production year.
Most Common Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 (7N) Faults & Repair Costs
Electrical gremlins: slow sat-nav, dead Bluetooth and glitchy powered sliding doors
RAC's Sharan used guides record that some owners complained specifically about electrics, with the satellite navigation running slowly or the Bluetooth pairing system refusing to work, and that the electrically sliding doors can be particularly glitchy, telling buyers to check all that functionality before purchase. Auto Express's used review independently notes an odd electrical fault on this MPV: the automatic headlights can come on when it is not especially dark, needing dealer recalibration with the right diagnostic equipment. None of these items strand the car, but they are expensive labour-first jobs on a family MPV.
Sliding door refuses to open or close from the switch or fob, Sat-nav takes a long time to map or freezes, Phone will not pair, or drops repeatedly, Headlights trigger in daylight
- Cycle both sliding doors and the tailgate at least three times each, listening for motor strain
- Pair your own phone on the viewing
- Check the automatic lighting switch position and watch the lights in a car park
AdBlue consumption and the EA189 emissions fix on 2.0 TDI cars
Auto Express's Sharan used guide states that Sharans with the 2.0 TDI have an AdBlue tank that must be topped up and can consume a litre every 500 miles, which soon adds up, and that diesel versions made from 2011 to 2015 with AdBlue systems were involved in the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Wikipedia's Sharan article confirms the model's poor UK reliability showing, recording a score of 200 points on the United Kingdom Reliability Index against an average of 100, based on a tested fleet averaging 5.3 years and 63,546 miles. Read together, the message for a used buyer is that diesel Sharans are cheap to buy but need verified emissions work and a dosing history.
AdBlue warning about remaining range or a no-start after an empty tank, Emissions or DPF warning lamps after short-trip use, Noticeable exhaust smell and soot from a town-driven diesel, Loss of power in limp mode under steady throttle
- Ask for receipts showing AdBlue top-ups and long-run servicing
- Check for the emissions-fix sticker or a printed record before buying a 2011-2015 diesel
- Take it on a 20-minute run above 40mph and watch whether the DPF warning clears
Single airbag-inflator recall and weak reliability scores
Auto Express's used guide is unusually specific: the Sharan was recalled only once in seven years, covering just 38 cars (plus some Touaregs) built between 23 and 28 January 2015, because the gas generator canisters for the side airbags could be damaged in an impact, causing the canister to burst and injure occupants. RAC's (2015-2021) used guide balances that with the reminder that What Car? gave this MPV a surprisingly low 78 per cent reliability score, and tells buyers to purchase carefully despite the strong engines. In practice: confirm the narrow recall window does not apply to your car, and buy condition over price.
Airbag warning lamp illuminated with no visible damage, Car built in the final week of January 2015 with no recall letter on file, Owner reports of general electrical faults, Dealer records showing no service work for two or more years
- Establish the exact build date from the VIN, not the registration
- Print the recall status from VW's UK recall check
- Have an independent specialist read the fault memory before exchange
Buying a used Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 (7N)? Always check for hidden finance and write-off history.
Mechanical problems are only half the battle. Over 1 in 3 UK used cars checked have unpaid finance or accident write-off records that could cause you to lose the car or thousands in value.