2016 Renault ZOE Electricity · PL66 HVR

The vehicle achieved a PASS at its most recent MOT on 23 December 2025, with a single advisory noting an offside front tyre worn smooth on its inner edge. However, the broader DVSA record reveals a pattern that warrants careful scrutiny. The 2022 test resulted in a Dangerous failure due to an offside front tyre with exposed plies or cords, accompanied by advisories on the nearside front tyre edge wear and a nail in the offside rear tyre. The following year saw Major failures recorded for an inoperative nearside rear stop lamp and an excessively worn offside front suspension arm ball joint. While the 2024 and 2025 tests passed, persistent advisories on front brake disc pitting and recurring offside front tyre edge wear suggest the vehicle has ongoing concerns with suspension geometry, wheel alignment, or steering component condition. The maintenance trend is therefore best described as deteriorating rather than stable, with safety-critical items being addressed reactively rather than preventatively. With approximately 47,456 miles recorded over a ten-year span, annual usage averages around 4,746 miles, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age. Such low mileage can indicate either gentle short-trip use or extended periods of standing, both of which carry their own mechanical consequences. For an electric Renault ZOE particularly, prolonged inactivity can be detrimental to the 12V auxiliary battery, the traction battery management system, and brake components that may corrode or seize through lack of regular operation. Conversely, predominantly urban short journeys tend to accelerate wear on steering and suspension components relative to higher-mileage motorway use, which is consistent with the recurring advisories on front tyres and brake discs. The gap between the 2021 test in late December and the 2022 test a year later shows consistent yearly usage, but the failure pattern emerging from 2022 onward is concerning regardless of mileage. A prospective buyer should treat the offside front suspension arm ball joint failure as a primary inspection point. Although it was repaired to enable the 2023 pass, the underlying cause of accelerated ball joint wear on this corner should be investigated, including the condition of the bushes, wishbones, and any evidence of tracking misalignment or kerb impact damage. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for vagueness or pulling in the steering, particularly under braking. The recurring offside front tyre edge wear is a strong indicator of camber or tracking misalignment, so all four tyres should be measured for even tread depth across their width, and the nearside fronts checked for matching wear patterns. Brake feel should be assessed for shudder or pulsation through the pedal, given the noted disc pitting, and a thorough visual inspection of both front discs for lip formation and surface corrosion should be carried out. The nearside rear stop lamp defect, though likely a bulb replacement, should be verified as functional on inspection. Given the age and low mileage profile, several age-related checks should also be prioritised regardless of the recorded MOT defects. The 12V auxiliary battery should be load-tested, as a ten-year-old unit is well beyond typical service life and failure can cause numerous electrical faults. The traction battery state of health and any diagnostic trouble codes should be obtained via a Renault-compatible diagnostic tool, as the main battery pack is the single most expensive component and its condition is not assessed at MOT. Brake calipers, particularly at the rear where drum-in-hat or electronic parking brake mechanisms are fitted, should be checked for free operation, as standing corrosion can cause binding and uneven pad wear. Tyres should be examined for sidewall perishing and cracking from age, even if tread depth appears adequate, and all fluid systems, including brake fluid which is hygroscopic and should be renewed on a calendar basis rather than mileage, should be verified as recently serviced. The service history stamps and any invoices for the suspension, tyre, and brake work referenced in the MOT record should be reviewed to establish whether reputable components and proper alignment procedures have been used, as the recurrence of similar advisories suggests either inferior replacement parts or an unresolved underlying geometry issue.