2020 Renault Zoe — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Renault Zoe passed 90.3% of its 19,869 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 8.9%, so the 2020 Zoe sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 7.1% of all tests — 5.1 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 351 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.8% in the 0-30k band and 21.8% in the 90-120k band, a 14.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.1% in 2022 to 11.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.1% | 1,402 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 392 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.6% | 313 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 312 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 152 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 76 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 351 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 327 |
| 3 | Washers | 262 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 165 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 141 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 138 |
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 | 23.5% | 4,663 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 2,086 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 1,194 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 1.7% | 346 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 275 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 190 |
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 | 13,149 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,011 | 13.1% |
| 60-90k | 625 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 53 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 6,477 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 6,580 | 9.9% |
| 2025 | 6,748 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Zoe
On a 2020 Zoe, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (7.1% 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 (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2020 Renault Zoes pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 19,869 2020 Renault Zoe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Renault Zoe?
Tyres, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2020 Zoe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,869 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.