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Renault Zoe problems (2012–2024)

The only engine of the Renault Zoe that we have documented, the Renault Zoe, has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the versions it is fitted to: «With caution».[1][2][3][4][5]

Outside the engine: Apart from the electric motor, where we assess the Caméléon integrated charger, the battery and the reduction gear, the Zoe has documented leaks and heat pump and climate control faults, and recalls for the electric parking brake (2016 and 2018), in limited production batches within the 426,706 units built between 2012 and 2024.[1][4][5][6]

Renault Zoe (2012–2024)
Photo: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468105.9out of 10

Renault Zoe rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 5 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated

  • Electric motor4.63 faults
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension0.00 faults
  • Brakes7.21 fault
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering7.30 faults
  • Electrical system10.0No documented faults
  • Headlights and lights6.20 faults
  • Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
  • Climate control8.61 fault
  • Bodywork and interior7.50 faults
  • Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults

The weak points of the Renault Zoe

  1. 1High severity: Caméléon integrated charger failure and charging cut-outsRenault Zoe engine · repair €3,000–€4,250
  2. 2Critical severity: Risk of internal short circuit in the traction battery (recalls)Renault Zoe engine
  3. 3Critical severity: Electric motor and reduction gear failureRenault Zoe engine · repair €6,000
  4. 4Medium severity: Heat pump and air conditioning leaks and failuresClimate control
  5. 5High severity: Electric parking brake failure (2016 and 2018 campaigns)Brakes

Documented engine

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

2 recalls and campaigns documented, the latest: Electric parking brake check over sudden failure. See the campaigns for the Renault Zoe

8 sourcesHow we work

Renault Zoe

Renault Zoe: motores Q210, R240, R90/R110 and R135 and baterías de 22 a 52 kWh · Electrical

In the Zoe
2012–2024[1][4][7]
Names
Zoe Q210 · Zoe R240 · Zoe Q90 · Zoe R90 Z.E. 40 · Zoe R110 Z.E. 40 · Zoe R110 Z.E. 50 · Zoe R135 Z.E. 50
Faults that affect it
3 · all of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
54
High risk

Verdict for the versions it uses

  • Zoe Q210 22 kWh, 88 hp (Continental motor, 2012-2015)2012–2015 · 88 hp · Q210, 5AGEN2

    With caution

    These cars are more than eleven years old. Check the motor (whine, range loss, bearings and rotor seal), the AC charger and, if the battery was rented, the contract or its buy-back.[1][2]

  • Zoe R240 22 kWh, 88 hp (Renault motor, 2015-2019)2015–2019 · 88 hp · R240

    With caution

    Same Caméléon charger and the same age precautions as the Q210. Fiches-auto records four charger complaints among twelve reviews of this version. Test a full charge on AC.[1][3]

  • Zoe R90 / Q90 Z.E. 40, 92 hp (41 kWh battery, 2016-2019)2016–2019 · 92 hp · R90, Q90

    With caution

    This is the version with the most reports of a failed motor on Fiches-auto (four out of twelve reviews, with cases between 107,000 and 152,000 km). Check for motor noise and the service history.[1]

  • Zoe R110 Z.E. 40, 108 hp (41 kWh battery, 2018-2019)2018–2019 · 108 hp · R110

    With caution

    There is one report of a reduction gear replaced at 59,000 km with a €6,000 invoice, and no further data for this version. Pay attention to reduction gear noise and test AC charging.[1]

  • Zoe R110 / R135 Z.E. 50, 108-136 hp (52 kWh battery, 2019-2024)2019–2024 · 108–136 hp · R110, R135, BT4 XLR

    With caution

    Fiches-auto records seven reports of a failed reduction gear among 31 reviews of the Zoe II, some before 80,000 km, and there are three battery campaigns covering specific batches. Check the chassis number at an official service.[4][5]

Faults that affect the Zoe

  1. High severityFrequency: CommonChargingCaméléon integrated charger failure and charging cut-outsThe Caméléon integrated charger is the component with the most reported faults on the Zoe. It can stop charging altogether (power module, around 5 to 7 years or before 100,000 km) or reject charging because it is sensitive to earthing faults and mains disturbances.Repair: €3,000–€4,250
  2. Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTraction batteryRisk of internal short circuit in the traction battery (recalls)Renault has recalled the Zoe three times (2020, 2022 and 2024) because of manufacturing defects in specific batches of the battery that can cause an internal short circuit and risk of fire. The known numbers are small compared with the more than 420,000 Zoe built.
  3. Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalElectric motor and reduction gearElectric motor and reduction gear failureSeveral owners document electric motor faults (bearings, rotor seal) or reduction gear faults between about 59,000 and 152,000 km, with a published invoice of €6,000, and at least one case in which Renault did not cover the cost, citing a known design defect.Repair: €6,000

Zoe Renault Zoe pageAll versions and faults of the Renault Zoe

Faults of the Renault Zoe outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the Renault Zoe

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 3,103 inspections of 1,501 cars registered between 2012 and 2022, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 14.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 2.7%.

    Many more defects than average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 5.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.2%.

    More defects than average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 1.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.1%.

    Average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 19.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 12.7%.

    More defects than average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.2%.

    Average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 0% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.2%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 0% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.3%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 4.3% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.7%.

    Average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 20.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 15.3%.

    More defects than average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used Renault Zoe

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the Renault Zoe (2012–2024)

Caméléon integrated charger failure and charging cut-outs

High severity

Risk of internal short circuit in the traction battery (recalls)

Critical severity

Electric motor and reduction gear failure

Critical severity

Buying a Renault Zoe?

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Own a Renault Zoe? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Renault Zoe reliable?

The only engine of the Renault Zoe that we have documented, the Renault Zoe, has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the versions it is fitted to: «With caution». Apart from the electric motor, where we assess the Caméléon integrated charger, the battery and the reduction gear, the Zoe has documented leaks and heat pump and climate control faults, and recalls for the electric parking brake (2016 and 2018), in limited production batches within the 426,706 units built between 2012 and 2024.

What problems does the Renault Zoe have apart from the engine?

Apart from the electric motor, where we assess the Caméléon integrated charger, the battery and the reduction gear, the Zoe has documented leaks and heat pump and climate control faults, and recalls for the electric parking brake (2016 and 2018), in limited production batches within the 426,706 units built between 2012 and 2024. The most important documented faults are: heat pump and air conditioning leaks and failures (climate control, medium severity) and electric parking brake failure (2016 and 2018 campaigns) (brakes, high severity).[1][4][5][6]

What faults does the Renault Zoe have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: caméléon integrated charger failure and charging cut-outs (Renault Zoe, high severity), risk of internal short circuit in the traction battery (recalls) (Renault Zoe, critical severity) and electric motor and reduction gear failure (Renault Zoe, critical severity).

What is the best year to buy a Renault Zoe?

According to our rating by year, the best are 2018, 2017, 2016 and 4 other years with the same rating (6.3/10); the worst rated is 2019 (6.1/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Does the Renault Zoe have recalls?

Yes: we have documented 2 campaigns for the Renault Zoe, such as electric parking brake check over sudden failure (2018). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.[1]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité Renault Zoe (2012-2019) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  2. Ist die Renault Zoe als gebrauchte eine sichere Bank?auto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 13 May 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  3. Renault Zoe: Bekannte Probleme & Kaufberatung (Phase 1 & 2)Gebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 24 April 2023 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  4. Fiabilité Renault Zoe II (à partir de 2019) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  5. Toutes les Renault Zoe vont-elles finir par brûler ?Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published September 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  6. Renault ZoéWikipédia (edición en francés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Renault ZoeWikipedia (edición en inglés) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  8. Renault Zoé qui refuse de charger : comment j'ai réglé le problème en 1 h pour moins de 80 €Automobile Propre · Motoring press · published 26 September 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French