IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2012 Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 (7N)

We've identified 2 known issues that can affect the 2012 Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 (7N). 1 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

2
Known Issues
1
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

AdBlue consumption and the EA189 emissions fix on 2.0 TDI cars

SeriousExhaust & Emissions

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.

Est. Repair Cost: £20–£60 per AdBlue refill but recurring, and £500–£1,500 for an out-of-warranty EGR or dosing module
Warning Signs:

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

What to Inspect:
  • 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
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Electrical gremlins: slow sat-nav, dead Bluetooth and glitchy powered sliding doors

ModerateElectrics & Electronics

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.

Est. Repair Cost: £50–£380 in parts per RAC's price list, with powered door motor and module labour on top
Warning Signs:

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

What to Inspect:
  • 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
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 2012 Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 (7N)

  • Take the 2.0 TDI 140 with a manual: Auto Express says even the least powerful engine has enough muscle for relaxed cruising, and the 2.0 TSI petrols are rare and thirstier.
  • Operate both powered sliding doors and the tailgate repeatedly from cold and warm - RAC singles out electrically sliding doors as the glitchiest item, and repairs are not cheap.
  • Check the AdBlue top-up record on post-2015 Euro 6 diesels. Auto Express warns the tank can use a litre every 500 miles, which is a real running cost if the previous owner ignored it.
  • Ask whether the emissions fix (N50) was applied to 2011-2015 diesels and whether the EGR has since failed - Auto Express lists these cars among the VW engines caught up in the diesel scandal.
  • Get the cambelt invoice. Auto Express quotes renewal every five years or 80,000 miles at £434 on a petrol and £399 on a diesel, plus £164-£329 services.
  • Inspect the middle-row seat runners and the load-area floor: this is a seven-seat family car and RAC says to expect over-exuberant wear and kerbed alloys.
Check a 2012 Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 (7N) by Registration