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Q210R240R90Q90R110R135

Renault Zoe engine: faults and reliability

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

The Zoe's drivetrain is reasonably reliable where the battery is concerned, but it has one known weak point: the integrated Caméléon charger, the component with the most reported faults, followed at a distance by motor and reduction gear faults and three battery campaigns covering specific batches.[1][2][3]

Risk index
54
High risk · what it is
Documented faults
3
3 of high or critical severity
Timing
—
Technical data[4]
Production
2012–2024
1 model on this site

8 sourcesHow we work

Which Renault Zoe versions should you buy?

Our verdict for each version, based on the documented faults.

  • 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][5]

  • 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][6]

  • 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.[2][3]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

Known faults of the Renault Zoe

Sorted from most to least important (severity × frequency).

  1. 1High 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. 2Critical 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. 3Critical 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

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

By part

Compare each fault with the same part on other engines: symptoms, cost and affected models.

Symptoms of these faults

What the Renault Zoe is

The Zoe has a drivetrain of Renault's own design: a lithium-ion battery of 22, 41 or 52 kWh usable (25.9, 45.6 and 55 kWh gross), a wound-rotor synchronous motor with brushes, a single-ratio reduction gear, and a ‘Caméléon’ charger that reuses the motor to charge on AC at up to 43 kW. Battery cooling is by air in all three generations.[2][4]

The original Q210 motor was supplied by Continental. In 2015 the R240 arrived from the Cléon plant, followed by the R90, the R110 (2018) and the R135 (2019). In 2016 the Z.E. 40 battery appeared, and in 2019 the Z.E. 50, with CCS DC fast charging of up to 50 kW.[4][6]

Fiches-auto.fr's statistics on 74 reports for the Zoe I and 31 for the Zoe II place the charger and the motor/reduction gear as the most cited parts of the electrical system. Meanwhile, auto motor und sport reports that, according to Renault, only 1% of customers since 2013 have used the battery warranty, and that Aviloo measured an average of over 90% remaining capacity.[1][2][5]

This file covers the Zoe. It does not include the Twingo Electric, whose drivetrain is based on that of the Smart EQ forfour according to Wikipedia, nor the Kangoo E-Tech Electric, which is based on the CMF-C/D platform. We have found no sources attributing the Zoe's motor or charger to them.[7][8]

Manufacturer
Renault
Family
Renault Zoe (plataforma B)
Type
Electrical
Engine
Síncrono de rotor bobinado, tracción delantera, con reductor de una relación y cargador Caméléon integrado
Battery
22–52 kWh
Power
88–136 hp
Peak torque
245 Nm
Production
2012–2024
Makes
Renault

Technical data[4]

What changed between versions

  1. 2012–2015

    Zoe Q210 22 kWh, 88 hp (Continental motor, 2012-2015)

    First Zoe series: 22 kWh battery (275 kg) and Continental Q210 synchronous motor, with about 65 kW and 220 Nm. Fitted with the Caméléon charger, which accepts three-phase AC up to 43 kW. The Q210 version on Fiches-auto has the 5AGEN2 motor.[1][4]

  2. 2015–2019

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

    From June 2015 Renault replaced the Continental motor with the R240, built at its Cléon plant, with the same power and torque as the Q210. It accepts only 22 kW AC charging, in exchange for greater efficiency in slow home charging. The battery remains 22 kWh.[4][6]

  3. 2016–2019

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

    In October 2016 the 41 kWh Z.E. 40 battery arrived, developed by Renault and LG Chem, with the R90 motor (Q90 in the variant with 43 kW AC fast charging). It keeps air battery cooling.[4]

  4. 2018–2019

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

    In February 2018 Renault introduced the R110, an evolution of the R90 with 80 kW and 225 Nm, and the first Renault motor approved under WLTP. It was sold alongside the R90, with the same 41 kWh battery.[4]

  5. 2019–2024

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

    From 2019 the Zoe has the 52 kWh usable (55 kWh gross) Z.E. 50 battery, also from Renault and LG Chem, with the R110 (80 kW) or R135 (100 kW) motor, CCS DC fast charging of up to 50 kW, and air battery cooling. The recalls for short circuits in the battery affect this generation.[2][3][4]

Cars fitted with the Renault Zoe

1 model sold in Spain. Open each one to see all its faults and the buying checklist.

Renault

  • Renault ZoeZoe Q210 · Zoe R240 · Zoe Q90 · Zoe R90 Z.E. 40 · Zoe R110 Z.E. 40 · Zoe R110 Z.E. 50 · Zoe R135 Z.E. 502012–2024[1][2][4]

Compare the Renault Zoe

Maintenance parts for the Renault Zoe

The parts replaced at services and when the timing belt or chain is changed, searched for this engine. Confirm the part number with the registration plate or VIN.

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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. Fiabilité Renault Zoe II (à partir de 2019) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  3. Toutes les Renault Zoe vont-elles finir par brûler ?Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · published September 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  4. Renault ZoeWikipedia (edición en inglés) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  5. 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
  6. Renault Zoe: Bekannte Probleme & Kaufberatung (Phase 1 & 2)Gebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 24 April 2023 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  7. Renault TwingoWikipedia (edición en inglés) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  8. Renault KangooWikipedia (edición en inglés) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026