Faults:

Well what can I say about this car apart from I HATE IT!!! It has been nothing, but trouble!!! I will never buy another Automatic vehicle again nor will I ever buy another Sharan...

When we first bought the car 2nd hand, despite its FSH and low mileage.. the (!) light kept flashing red, turned out N/S rear brake calliper had a slow leak.

The brake light didn't work and needed replacing.

At the same time we found out the brake cables were seriously corroded and needed replacing before MOT.

Hand brake was loose.

Front passengers door interior panel fell off, so you couldn't close the door from the inside.

When you open the rear windows the roof panel falls down.

Also the seat cover part that covers the side of the seats are loose too which i must remember to glue back together.

Then after 8 weeks of ownership the gears started slipping, first in low gears then in high gears. The revs would go of the scale it would loose power and pretty much not move. It felt like it was coasting?? Turns out needed a new gear box which cost £1700!!!

At the same the time the mechanic decided he would also replace a wheel joint which cost a further £150!! As if we hadn't spent enough!

Then after less than a week after recon gear box, the gears went strange again and the revs went off the scale as before!! Must admit this was the only time it did this, although won't hold my breathe.

After a further week, the gears wouldn't move out of park, meaning that I couldn't drive it. Back to the garage, we were eventually told it was the brake light switch which cost £100.

Before even getting the car out of the garage, we were told the brakes had failed!

The car is now due for MOT next week and then I will get rid!!!

This has been the worst car I have ever had and I can't wait to get something else!!!

General Comments:

This car has loads of space, which is great for my needs.

Faults:

Broke down at least ten times in two years.

Stereo packed up after 6,000 miles. Bought a more contemporary stereo to replace it.

Brake cable snapped after 15,000 miles and had to be replaced.

Head gasket blew after 22,000 miles and engine was replaced under warranty.

Gearbox kept jumping from third to second gear on roundabouts. Had a new gearbox fitted after 28,000 miles.

General Comments:

Considering Volkswagen built their reputation on reliability and build quality, the Sharan was a disaster.

Very practical and backed up by good customer care from a very understanding dealership, but after two years I was fed up to the back teeth of the car and traded it in.

Faults:

The major thing that went wrong was the automatic gearbox, It would slip before engaging third.

The climate control does not blow cold.

The speaker grills are flimsy and easily damaged.

General Comments:

I only had the car for a week before it stalled at the traffic lights (in rush hour) and refused to start. Luckily a service fixed this problem. My advice is do not buy one without service history and do not leave the service interval too long.

The following week without any warning, the automatic gearbox started slipping when engaging 3rd gear. Luckily this cost me only £525 to fix, quotes for this repair were between £525 and £1700!!.

The interior is light and spaceious, but shows the grime quickly. The vanity mirror covers in the sun visors were broken when I bought it, and the bulbs were removed to prevent the battery being discharged. My model has the captains chairs and these are without a doubt the most comfortable car seat I've ever sat in.

I only use the Sharan for short journeys around town and this is reflected in the miles per gallon, which is often as low as 8 mpg (yes eight MPG!!!) and never higher than 12 MPG. I would suspect there is something wrong with it, but nothing my local garage can diagnose.

Would I buy another Sharan, well no. However I would buy another Volkswagon, possibly a Golf or Polo only this time I'd go for a manual gearbox.