VW Sharan II 2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive (2011–2015)

Research for this car

• Generation guide VW Sharan II (2010-2022): known problems and buying guide

  Below average for its age; check the airbag recall work, the sliding doors and the suspension before you buy.

• Engine guide VW 1.6 and 2.0 TDI (EA189) diesel engines: problems, costs and what to check

  Recall work, EGR and DPF faults and injector repairs are common. Buy with recall proof, a belt invoice and a clean fault memory.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Sliding doors. Open and close each sliding door by its switch and by hand. Test the B-pillar buttons and the central locking. A door that will not open, or a door control unit fault, can mean a motor, control unit or cable job, which is costly. Needs a scanner to read the door control unit fault codes.
2. Suspension. Push down each corner and let go. The car should settle after one bounce. On a test drive, listen for knocks over bumps and noise when turning on the spot. These point to worn wishbone bearings, tie rods or dampers. No tools needed.
3. Rust. Check the tailgate edges, the door seams and the lower edges of the doors for bubbling paint and rust. No tools needed.
4. Airbag recalls. Ask a VW dealer to check the VIN for airbag campaigns. A car with open airbag work may not deploy its airbag in a crash. No tools needed.
5. Brakes. Look through the wheels at the discs and pads. Heavy use wears them fast. Ask for the brake history. No tools needed.
6. Headlights. Check the low beam aim, cloudy lenses and both indicators. A fault may need height adjustment or new headlights. No tools needed.
7. Electrics and infotainment. Test the sat nav, Bluetooth pairing and the automatic lights in daylight. Light faults may need dealer recalibration with diagnostic equipment. Needs a scanner for the light recalibration.

From the engine guide

1. Recall paperwork (no scanner). Ask the dealer for a record of the software update, and of the flow straightener on a 1.6. Bad: no record.
2. Fault memory (needs a scanner). Bad: EGR codes P0401 or P0402, turbo codes P2563 or P2564, or DPF codes such as P2002.
3. Test drive. Bad: judder, lost power or limp mode.
4. Injectors (no scanner). Ask whether the injectors were replaced or revised. Bad: rough running with no injector work on record.
5. Swirl flaps (needs a scanner). Bad: limp mode on a 2.0 TDI.
6. DPF (no scanner). Ask how the car was driven and whether the filter was cleaned. Bad: a DPF warning lamp, or short trips only.
7. Coolant (engine cold). Check the level and look for an exhaust smell in the cabin. Bad: any coolant loss. The EGR cooler is a common cause.
8. Timing belt invoice. Bad: no dated invoice for the belt, tensioner and water pump, or past 210,000 km or 5 years with no change.
9. Turbo (needs a scanner). On a 2.0 TDI past about 150,000 km. Bad: boost codes or oil leaks at the turbo.
10. Flywheel (manual only). Drive in 2nd gear at about 1,400 rpm. Bad: a rattle.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions