2016 Renault Zoe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 9,713 MOT tests, the 2016 Renault Zoe recorded a 77.9% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 15.5% of the time, so this is 6.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, headlamp and stop lamp — ball joint alone was recorded 1,233 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.8% in the 0-30k band and 35.2% in the 90-120k band, a 18.4-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.7% | 1,326 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.4% | 819 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 800 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 280 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 180 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.4% | 43 |
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 | 1,233 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 361 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 327 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 229 |
| 5 | Washers | 221 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 204 |
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 | 30.8% | 2,987 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 1,406 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.2% | 1,277 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.5% | 822 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 611 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 3.1% | 298 |
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 | 3,753 | 16.8% |
| 30-60k | 5,143 | 24.7% |
| 60-90k | 728 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 35.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,859 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 2,012 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 1,967 | 22.2% |
| 2024 | 1,955 | 23.9% |
| 2025 | 1,920 | 25.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Zoe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.7% 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 (8.4% 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 (8.2% 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 2016 Renault Zoes pass their MOT?
77.9% of the 9,713 2016 Renault Zoe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Renault Zoe?
Suspension, recorded in 13.7% of tests, followed by tyres (8.4%).
Does the 2016 Zoe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,713 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.