Renault
2,082 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Zoe I Iconic ZE 50s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 11.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
89.3%
Pass-after-fix
1.6%
Fail
8.6%
Avg miles
24,939
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Electric and hydrogen vehicles are exempt from all UK clean air zone charges.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,082 tests
Pass rate drops 2.3 points across the cohorts — recent Zoe I Iconic ZE 50 examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
90.0%
Fail
8.1%
PRS
1.5%
Avg mileage at test
26,385 mi
Pass
87.7%
Fail
9.6%
PRS
2.0%
Avg mileage at test
21,383 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 994 MOT tests, the Zoe I Iconic Ze 50 returns 89.1% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 19,708, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
16–22
out of 50
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A tyre seriously damaged
65 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
41 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
28 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
25 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
11 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
9 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Wiper blade defective
7 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
5 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
5 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
5 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this Zoe I Iconic ZE 50's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 2.3-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Renault Zoe I Iconic ZE 50 makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
90.0%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 90.0% — a 2.3-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: has a cut in excess of the…, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
87.7%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 87.7% pass rate against a fleet average of 90.0% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has a cut in excess of the…, has ply or cords exposed, and tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Average mileage on test for this band is 21,383 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (90.0% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (87.7% pass). That's a 2.3-point spread across 603 older tests and 1,479 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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Owner reports · Honest John
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
Regenerative braking recovers practically all of the energy otherwise wasted during braking, without any significant impact on ZOE’s on-road dynamics. The car offers a smooth drive with no jarring electric motor braking.
Where it falls short
Initially, in the UK, monthly battery hire costs from £70 (9,000 miles/36 month contract), inclusive of comprehensive breakdown assistance (which covers flat batteries).
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Zoe I Iconic ZE 50 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
