Used car guide

2014 Renault ZOE: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Renault ZOE first registered in 2014: we looked at the 2,423 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,423MOTs of 2014 cars, done in 2023–2025
60%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 70%)
5,000typical miles a year
4.7×the usual rate for ball joint

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Renault ZOE?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Renault ZOE than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Ball joint4.7× usual
    Renault ZOE
    17% All 2014 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.8%, against 2% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Individual direction indicators5.9× usual
    Renault ZOE
    4.7% All 2014 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.3% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wheels3.5× usual
    Renault ZOE
    4.2% All 2014 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.1× usual
    Renault ZOE
    4.3% All 2014 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2%, against 0.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Brake lights2.1× usual
    Renault ZOE
    5.5% All 2014 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 2.1% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Brake pads: 3.5% here, against 10.1% of all 2014 cars. Suspension arm bushes and joints: 3.1% here, against 7% of all 2014 cars.

Common 2014 Renault ZOE MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2014 Renault ZOE MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    37% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    34% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    21% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2014 Renault ZOE

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Brake hose, pedal and rear seat recalls

    Some cars

    Wheel arch liners could rub through the front brake hoses, some cars built July to Oct 2017 had the wrong accelerator pedal, and the rear bench might not lock.

    At the viewing: Ask a Renault dealer to check the VIN for outstanding recalls.

    Source: What Car?: used Renault Zoe (2013-2024) reliability

  • Charging, battery management and 12-volt battery faults

    All versions

    Owners report charging and battery management problems, and the 12-volt battery was the main complaint. If buying out a battery lease, check whether the battery was replaced.

    At the viewing: Test charging, check the range and ask about battery lease status.

    Source: What Car?: used Renault Zoe (2013-2024) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 Renault ZOE

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Have the brake hose and rear seat recalls been done?
  2. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the 2014 Renault ZOE as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the individual direction indicators? (Flagged at MOT 5.9× as often on the 2014 Renault ZOE as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the wheels? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2014 Renault ZOE as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Renault ZOE?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Renault ZOE compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2024–Too new for MOT data
2023–Too new for MOT data
20225,780Tyres 26%
202112,123Tyres 28%
202017,874Tyres 28%
20196,778Tyres 37%
20185,398Tyres 37%
20173,026Tyres 37%
20164,530Tyres 37%
20155,084Tyres 35%
2013929Suspension 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Renault ZOE cars first registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score