2015 Renault Zoe — MOT failures & pass rate
11,120 MOT tests on the 2015 Renault Zoe are in this dataset, and 76.2% of them passed. That is 6.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 17.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 15.0% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp and stop lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 1,373 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 33.3% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.0% | 1,668 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,033 |
| 3 | Tyres | 8.2% | 906 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 336 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 316 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.1% | 118 |
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 | 1,373 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 439 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 416 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 350 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 318 |
| 6 | Washers | 257 |
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 | 29.0% | 3,225 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 1,730 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.3% | 1,480 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 891 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 786 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 3.5% | 395 |
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 | 2,996 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 6,613 | 24.5% |
| 60-90k | 1,314 | 30.9% |
| 90-120k | 159 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,165 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 2,259 | 22.8% |
| 2023 | 2,273 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 2,208 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 2,215 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Zoe
On a 2015 Zoe, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (15.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.2% 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.
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 2015 Renault Zoes pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 11,120 2015 Renault Zoe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Renault Zoe?
Suspension, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.3%).
Does the 2015 Zoe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,120 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.