2013 Renault Zoe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,091 MOT tests, the 2013 Renault Zoe recorded a 74.0% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (21.1% fail rate), the 2013 Zoe comes out 4.9pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.9% of all tests — 8.6 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, coil spring and stop lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 224 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.1% versus 17.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.9% | 353 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.3% | 174 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 156 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.6% | 75 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 74 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.6% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 224 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 154 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 65 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 63 |
| 5 | Washers | 58 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 56 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 31.7% | 663 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.2% | 339 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 289 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.6% | 221 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 6.2% | 129 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 77 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 328 | 17.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,130 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 474 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 136 | 33.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 413 | 22.3% |
| 2022 | 424 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 435 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 414 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 405 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Zoe
On a 2013 Zoe, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (8.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2013 Renault Zoes pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 2,091 2013 Renault Zoe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Renault Zoe?
Suspension, recorded in 16.9% of tests, followed by tyres (8.3%).
Does the 2013 Zoe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.7% in the 0-30k band to 33.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,091 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.