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What to check: Renault Zoe

EBy age

DBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Renault Zoe, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 15.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 7.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 3.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 3.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

WheelsRuns high on this modelLook at each rim for kerb damage and check no wheel nuts are missing. A steering wheel that shimmies between 50 and 60 on the test drive often turns out to be a buckled or badly balanced wheel.Recorded on 3.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

A binding brakeRuns high on this modelAfter the test drive, hold the back of your hand near each wheel hub. One wheel running much hotter than the rest is a sticking caliper. A car that slows itself down when you lift off on a flat road is saying the same thing.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 26.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 14.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 10.1%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Ask for or run a battery health/capacity check (dealer tool or an app like Zoe Assistant/CANzE).Capacity noticeably below what the age and mileage suggest, or outside Renault's guarantee band, points to worse-than-average degradation.

Plug in and charge from a domestic socket and, if possible, a public fast charger during the viewing.A charging-impossible message, a charge that cuts out, or the car refusing to start charging points to a Chameleon charger fault.

Check the paperwork for whether the traction battery is owned or still on a lease.A leased battery means an ongoing monthly fee and a potentially awkward, costly buyout if you want to own it outright.

If the car has sat for a day or more, try a cold start with no jump pack attached.A car that won't wake up, frozen gear selector, or dead start button suggests the 12V drain issue rather than just an old 12V battery.

Drive over a speed bump or rough patch at low speed and get in and out of the rear seats.Creaks or bangs from the suspension match the segment's most common MOT fault category, so treat any noise seriously.

Check the MOT history for repeated suspension advisories.The same advisory two or three years running means the underlying wear hasn't actually been fixed.

Test all four door handles and the keyless locking with the key card carried normally, including with an armrest fitted.A handle that won't pop out or locking that responds late is a known but disputed snag, worth a dealer check rather than a deal-breaker on its own.

Full Renault Zoe reliability report