2017 Renault ZOE Electric · FD17 YOC

The defining mechanical characteristic of this 2017 Renault Zoe is a front suspension and tyre wear pattern that has recurred across every recorded MOT since 2023, producing two failures and four passes laden with advisories. The most recent test on 3 August 2026 produced a pass, but only after a same-day failure identified an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint plus deteriorated dust covers on both front upper anti-roll bar linkage ball joints. These are not isolated observations. The offside front lower arm ball joint was similarly flagged as excessively worn in August 2024, and in August 2023 a nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint reached the same Major defect threshold. A fractured nearside front coil spring in August 2025 and the wiper failure of 2024 round out a record in which the Zoe has passed its MOT only after addressing repeat suspension component defects, with front tyre inner-edge wear appearing as an advisory at virtually every test for the past three years. Against an age of nine years, the recorded 60,817 miles equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 6,757 miles, which sits broadly within the expected range for a vehicle of this age and avoids the concerns associated with either very low or exceptionally high usage. The mileage progression recorded at test dates is steady, with no evidence of multi-year lay-ups or sudden jumps that would imply clock irregularities or sporadic use. Mileage of this magnitude on a nine-year-old electric supermini is consistent with mixed urban and suburban driving, and mechanically that usage profile tends to place repetitive stress on front suspension components, brake discs, and steering linkages through constant low-speed direction changes and kerb contact rather than long high-speed cruising. A prospective buyer should treat the front suspension as the primary area of scrutiny. The offside front lower arm ball joint was replaced or attended to between August 2024 and August 2026 and then flagged again on the August 2026 failure, which suggests the repair may have been a partial or budget-quality intervention rather than a full arm replacement. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking over speed bumps and uneven road surfaces, particularly from the front offside corner, and feel for vagueness or shimmy through the steering wheel on rough tarmac. Both front upper anti-roll bar linkage dust covers are now compromised, allowing moisture and grit ingress into the ball joints, so any squeaking or stiffness when turning at low speed should be viewed as an early warning. The nearside front coil spring fracture in 2025 warrants a visual check of front ride height for unevenness, and the boot area should be inspected for any sign of the fractured spring coil contacting bodywork. The braking record is comparatively stable but warrants attention. The 2024 advisories noted nearside and offside front brake disc wear and thinning inner brake pads, and a year on there is no recorded re-inspection of those items. On test, expect sharp, vibration-free operation from a light pedal; any judder under braking, pulling to one side, or a grinding noise indicates the discs may now require machining or replacement. The tyres present an immediate expense, as all four were flagged at the limit on the most recent test, three with inner-edge wear characteristic of front-end alignment or suspension geometry drift. A four-wheel alignment check should accompany any suspension component replacement to prevent the inner-edge wear pattern from returning. The slightly distorted nearside front road wheel noted in August 2026 should be inspected for cracks or buckling, and the nearside front DRL/position lamp damaged by water ingress in 2024 should be checked for condensation, lens clouding, or non-function. Finally, the nearside rear tyre was recorded as dangerously bulging due to structural separation in 2023, so all four tyres and the spare should be examined for sidewall integrity and age-related cracking before purchase.