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Renault ZOE reliability

E · Poor

MOT pass rates and common problems from 111,577 MOT tests of cars first registered 2013–2022.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
76.8%pass first time
−8.7 ptsvs typical car
Beats 1%of cars
111,577MOT tests

Verdict

The Renault ZOE passes its MOT first time on 76.8% of tests, 8.7 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (85.6%). That puts it ahead of 1% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.

Better than average on visibility.

Watch these weak spots

Suspension4.5×as often as a typical car
Tyres1.9×as often as a typical car
Suspension ball joints18.2×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking2.3×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%100%3456789101187%84%79%72%66%63%61%61%61%
Renault ZOETypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2013
Beats 2%
2014
Beats 1%
2015
Beats 0%
2016
Beats 0%
2017
Beats 0%
2018
Beats 0%
2019
Beats 0%
2020
Beats 20%
2021
Beats 25%
2022
Beats 30%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2013–2022111,57776.8%Beats 1%E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Suspension: 9.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 6.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 2.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 6.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−2.7 ptsTyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−4.1 ptsBrakes: 2.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−0.2 ptsSuspension: 9.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−7.2 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/aSuspension: 9.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 2.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 6.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Lights: 6.3% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 3.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−2.7 ptsTyres: 8.7% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−4.1 ptsBrakes: 2.6% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−0.2 ptsSuspension: 9.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−7.2 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/a
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Suspension: 9.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Suspension
9.3% vs 2.1%
Tyres
8.7% vs 4.6%
Lights & electrics
6.3% vs 3.6%
Brakes
2.6% vs 2.4%
Visibility
2.5% vs 3.1%
Steering
0.5% vs 0.4%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.3%
Body & structure
0.3% vs 0.6%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.2%
Emissions & leaks
0.0% vs 0.8%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Suspension ball joints 18.2× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Tyre damage & cracking 2.3× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Brake lights 3.8× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Anti-roll bar links 14.7× typical
    A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).
  • Headlight bulbs & units 3.0× typical
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
  • Windscreen washers 1.8× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k93%87%80%73%68%64%61%60%58%
Renault ZOETypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking6.9%3.0%2.3×
Suspension ball joints5.9%0.3%18.2×
Brake lights2.0%0.5%3.8×
Windscreen washers1.9%1.1%1.8×
Tyre tread depth1.6%1.3%1.2×
Headlight bulbs & units1.5%0.5%3.0×
Coil springs1.4%0.7%2.0×
Headlight aim1.3%1.5%0.9×
Anti-roll bar links1.3%0.1%14.7×
Brake performance0.9%0.3%2.7×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn72.1
A tyre seriously damaged41.7
A tyre cords visible or damaged28.0
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen18.7
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements16.1
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning15.9
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened13.9
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED13.2
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2022 Renault ZOE1 engine88.5% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric6,19788.5%Beats 30%D
2021 Renault ZOE1 engine86.9% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric16,62186.9%Beats 25%D
2020 Renault ZOE1 engine85.6% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric22,91785.6%Beats 20%E
2019 Renault ZOE1 engine74.2% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric11,24674.2%Beats 0%E
2018 Renault ZOE1 engine71.4% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric10,48771.4%Beats 0%E
2017 Renault ZOE1 engine68.6% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric6,99468.6%Beats 0%E
2016 Renault ZOE1 engine71.2% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric11,97471.2%Beats 0%E
2015 Renault ZOE1 engine68.8% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric15,08468.8%Beats 0%E
2014 Renault ZOE1 engine66.9% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric7,27666.9%Beats 1%E
2013 Renault ZOE1 engine64.3% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2,78164.3%Beats 2%E

FAQ

What is the Renault ZOE MOT pass rate?

76.8% of MOT tests on the Renault ZOE were passed first time, based on 111,577 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2013–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 85.6% of the time.

Is the Renault ZOE reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 1% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Renault ZOE?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, suspension ball joints, brake lights. Compared with similar cars, suspension ball joints comes up 18.2× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.