Common faults, service intervals and costs

Volkswagen Sharan I

1995–2010 · Volkswagen Sharan 1

engines covered

known faults

4,740

roadworthiness tests in the statistics

official recalls

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The Volkswagen Sharan I was built from 1995 to 2010.

For this generation we cover 4 engines and 18 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.

The most expensive known risk is Big-end bearing failure (BXE / BKC / BLS): it usually appears at 150,000–280,000 km and costs €1,500–3,500 to fix.

In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 250+ thousand km this model most often failed on: lights, wipers and visibility (29.2 %), suspension (27.8 %), body and corrosion (19.5 %). It fails more often than an average car of the same age and mileage on: suspension, steering, body and corrosion. It fails less often than average on: exhaust, emissions and leaks.

Engines

Engine	Fuel	Timing drive	Oil
1.6 / 2.0 8v MPI (EA113)	Petrol	Belt · 90,000 km / every 60 mo	5W-40 / 10W-40 · VW 502.00 / 501.01 · ~4.5 L · every 15,000 km
1.8 T 20v (EA113)	Petrol	Belt · 90,000 km / every 60 mo	5W-40 / 5W-30 · VW 502.00 / 504.00 · ~4.0–4.5 L · every 10,000 km
1.9 TDI PD / VE (EA188)	Diesel	Belt · 120,000 km / every 60 mo	5W-40 / 5W-30 · VW 505.01 (PD) / 505.00 · ~4.3 L · every 15,000 km
2.0 TDI PD (EA188, 8v / 16v)	Diesel	Belt · 120,000 km / every 60 mo	5W-30 · VW 507.00 / 505.01 · ~4.3 L · every 15,000 km

Faults by engine

1.6 / 2.0 8v MPI (EA113)

Ignition coil pack / leads

usually 100,000–200,000 km · Wear part

Signs: Misfire, flashing engine light

Fix: Replace coil pack and leads

€80–200

Intake / crankcase breather leaks

usually 120,000–220,000 km · Wear part

Signs: Lean codes, unstable idle

Fix: Replace gaskets / breather hoses

€60–200

Oil consumption at high mileage

usually 200,000–320,000 km · Wear part

Signs: Topping up between services

Fix: Valve stem seals / rings

€300–1,200

1.8 T 20v (EA113)

Ignition coils (2001–2003)

usually 60,000–160,000 km · Medium risk

Signs: Misfire, flashing engine light

Fix: Replace coils (updated part)

€100–300

Oil sludge → turbo failure

usually 120,000–220,000 km · High risk

Signs: Oil light, smoke, turbo whine — worse with long oil intervals

Fix: Clean the oil pickup, synthetic oil every 10,000 km, replace turbo

€600–1,800

PCV / breather hoses cracked

usually 100,000–180,000 km · Wear part

Signs: Whistle, lean codes, oil leaks

Fix: Replace the PCV hose kit

€80–250

Water pump (plastic impeller)

usually 90,000–150,000 km · Medium risk

Signs: Overheating

Fix: Use a metal-impeller pump at the belt change

€0–150

1.9 TDI PD / VE (EA188)

Big-end bearing failure (BXE / BKC / BLS)

usually 150,000–280,000 km · High risk

engine codes: BXE, BKC, BLS, BJB, BRU, BXF

Signs: Knocking from the bottom end, oil light — can destroy the engine

Fix: VW 505.01 oil every 10–15,000 km; bearing inspection

€1,500–3,500

Turbo vanes (VNT) sticking

usually 150,000–250,000 km · Medium risk

Signs: Limp mode under load, overboost / underboost codes

Fix: Clean or recondition the turbo

€300–900

Unit injector loom / O-rings (PD)

usually 150,000–250,000 km · Medium risk

Signs: Misfire, hard hot start, fuel in oil

Fix: Replace loom or injector seals

€200–700

EGR valve clogging

usually 120,000–200,000 km · Wear part

Signs: Power loss, black smoke

Fix: Clean or replace EGR

€150–400

Tandem (fuel / vacuum) pump leak

usually 150,000–250,000 km · Wear part

Signs: Diesel smell, leak at the back of the cylinder head

Fix: Reseal or replace the tandem pump

€150–400

2.0 TDI PD (EA188, 8v / 16v)

Cracked cylinder head (16v BKD / AZV)

usually 120,000–250,000 km · High risk

engine codes: BKD, AZV, BMN, BMR, BUY, BMA

Signs: Unexplained coolant loss, overheating, bubbles in the expansion tank

Fix: Pressure test; replace the cylinder head

€1,200–2,500

Camshaft and lifter wear (8v BMM / BMP / BKP)

usually 120,000–220,000 km · High risk

engine codes: BMM, BMP, BKP, BVE, BRT, BSY

Signs: Ticking, loss of power, metal in oil

Fix: Replace camshaft, rockers and lifters

€800–1,500

Unit injectors

usually 150,000–250,000 km · Medium risk

Signs: Misfire, smoke, hard start

Fix: Test and replace injectors

€600–1,600

Gearboxes

Manual

Clutch wear

usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk

Signs: Slipping, high bite point

Fix: Replace clutch kit

€500–900

Automatic 4-speed (01M / 01N)

01M valve body / solenoids

usually 120,000–220,000 km · Medium risk

Signs: Harsh 2–3 shift, limp mode

Fix: Fluid change; valve body repair

€300–1,200

Automatic (Aisin / ZF Tiptronic)

Torque converter / valve body

usually 150,000–250,000 km · Wear part

Signs: Delayed or harsh shifts

Fix: Fluid service, repair

€300–2,500

Scheduled service

Intervals and typical prices for the 1.6 / 2.0 8v MPI (EA113) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.

Item	Interval	Typical price
Engine oil + oil filterEngine	every 15,000 km or every 12 months	€70–150
Cabin (pollen) filterClimate	every 15,000 km or every 12 months	€15–40
Brake fluidBrakes	every 24 months	€50–95
A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate	every 24 months	€70–150
Air filterEngine	every 30,000 km or every 24 months	€15–45
Spark plugsIgnition	every 60,000 km or every 48 months	€50–160
Timing belt kit + water pumpEngine	every 90,000 km or every 60 months	€450–900
Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine	every 120,000 km	€70–180
Coolant replacementCooling	every 150,000 km or every 96 months	€70–150
Manual gearbox oilTransmission	every 150,000 km	€60–130
Front brake padsBrakes	usually at 30,000–60,000 km	€60–150
Front brake discs + padsBrakes	usually at 60,000–120,000 km	€150–320
Rear brake padsBrakes	usually at 50,000–90,000 km	€50–130
Tyres (set of 4)Wheels	usually at 40,000–60,000 km	€320–700
Wiper bladesBody	checked at service	€20–50
12V batteryElectrical	checked at service	€100–220

Roadworthiness tests by mileage

Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 4,740 tests.

thousand km	100–150	150–200	200–250	250+
Brakes	12.4 %	13.5 %	15.3 %	15.7 %
Suspension	21.8 %	24.2 %	28.9 %	27.8 %
Steering	2.1 %	6.0 %	7.6 %	10.1 %
Tyres and wheels	6.9 %	7.4 %	9.4 %	9.4 %
Lights, wipers and visibility	22.0 %	24.9 %	27.0 %	29.2 %
Body and corrosion	14.6 %	17.1 %	19.0 %	19.5 %
Exhaust, emissions and leaks	5.1 %	6.0 %	5.2 %	5.5 %

Official recalls

Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (5). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.

Airbag Takata Front airbag13/06/2023 · R/2023/178
Fire risk Twin-mass flywheel may fail and result in a vehicle fire02/06/2006 · R/2006/058
Fuel system Bolts of the tandem fuel pump cover may break03/03/2005 · R/2004/211
Visibility Windscreen wiper motor may fail20/05/2002 · R/2002/036
Doors / locks / lids Freezing of door locks30/01/1997 · R/1996/106

Common questions

Does the Volkswagen Sharan I have a timing chain or a timing belt?

1.6 / 2.0 8v MPI (EA113): belt · 90,000 km / every 60 mo; 1.8 T 20v (EA113): belt · 90,000 km / every 60 mo; 1.9 TDI PD / VE (EA188): belt · 120,000 km / every 60 mo; 2.0 TDI PD (EA188, 8v / 16v): belt · 120,000 km / every 60 mo.

What are the known problems with the Volkswagen Sharan I?

The faults with the highest risk: big-end bearing failure (BXE / BKC / BLS) (150,000–280,000 km, €1,500–3,500); cracked cylinder head (16v BKD / AZV) (120,000–250,000 km, €1,200–2,500); oil sludge → turbo failure (120,000–220,000 km, €600–1,800); camshaft and lifter wear (8v BMM / BMP / BKP) (120,000–220,000 km, €800–1,500). The full list by engine is on this page.

What does the Volkswagen Sharan I most often fail its roadworthiness test on?

What should you check when buying a used Volkswagen Sharan I?

Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN that the recalls have been done (5 have been published for this model). If the engine has a timing belt, ask for the invoice for its replacement: with no proof, assume it has not been done. On the test drive, watch for these signs: knocking from the bottom end, oil light — can destroy the engine; unexplained coolant loss, overheating, bubbles in the expansion tank. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.

Other generations

Volkswagen Sharan II 2010–2022

Models with the same engines

These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.

Audi A3 (8P) 2003–2012 Škoda Octavia II 2004–2013 Volkswagen Polo IV (9N) 2001–2009 Volkswagen Caddy III 2004–2020 Volkswagen Golf IV 1997–2006 Volkswagen Golf V 2003–2008 Audi A4 (B7) 2004–2008 Volkswagen Passat B6 2005–2010

Other Volkswagen models

Volkswagen Passat B5 1996–2005 Volkswagen Polo III (6N) 1994–2001 Volkswagen Passat B4 1993–1997 Volkswagen Bora 1998–2005 Volkswagen Lupo 1998–2005 Volkswagen New Beetle 1998–2010 Volkswagen Golf III 1991–1997 Volkswagen Transporter T4 1990–2003 Volkswagen Touareg I 2002–2010 Volkswagen Touran I 2003–2015

Sources and notes

Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.

Updated 08/10/2026

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