The Renault Zoe is a small five-door electric car that was first introduced back in 2012. It is designed to be a small city car capable of nipping through traffic in busy European city centers. The Zoe is designed to take up as little space as possible which means that it isn’t particularly spacious or good for long-distance driving.
In this article, we are going to go over all the common problems with Renault Zoe which means that we are going to tell you what can go wrong with the Zoe, how serious it is, and what you can do to fix it. These include problems with the brakes which can lose their effectiveness and problems with the accelerator pedal.
Other issues include transmission-related problems which can disengage the car’s park gear and thus cause the car to roll. We also need to talk about safety as the Renault Zoe is not an overly safe car, especially for a post-2010 car. Even though this is not technically a problem in a reliability sense, it indeed is a serious problem.
The last problem we are going to talk about is the heater which can fail and stop blowing out warm air. All in all, the Zoe is about average when it comes to reliability, but only if you take proper care of it.
Problems with the Brakes
Renault has had a few of its cars experiencing the same issues with the inner brake hose rubbing against the inner wheel wells and deteriorating over time. This can cause these lines to leak which will lead to a really poor brake response. If this happens, you are going to have a difficult time trying to stop the car, no matter the speed.
This was a reason why Renault recalled a bunch of these twice in order to fix this problem. The best thing you can do is keep an eye on these brake lines and inspect them whenever you change the oil. If they seem worn, be sure to replace them before they start leaking in order not to end up in an accident.
Accelerator Pedal Problems
There have been a few instances where Renault Zoe owners complained about the accelerator pedal getting stuck and thus not letting you disengage the throttle. This problem sounds really serious, and that is because it really is serious. Renault did come out and say that some 2017 models have had the incorrect pedal fitted.
The associated recall made sure that all of those pedals get replaced, but there were situations where people complained about this problem even after replacing the pedal. All in all, always inspect the accelerator pedal at the dealership to make sure that everything is as it should be.
Transmission Issues
A small pin within the Zoe’s gearbox lever is known to break and allow the car to roll away even when placed in park. Thankfully, the handbrake is not affected by this issue which means that you should be able to countereffect this problem by simply engaging the electronic handbrake whenever you select park.
Even so, this is a serious issue and Renault did a few recalls to combat this issue fully. So, contact a Renault dealership and look for any info if the car you are looking at has been part of any of these recalls.
Poor Safety Credentials
Euro NCAP “awarded” the Renault Zoe with an abysmal 0 out of 0 stars which means that it does not satisfy the minimum requirements needed for it to be deemed a safe car. The side impact crash test has shown the worst results as the Zoe does not manage to keep the driver and the passengers adequately safe.
Sure, the Zoe is a really small car so people naturally think that it should be relatively unsafe, but that is not always the case as there are many 5-star rated subcompact cars out there.
Heater Problems
If you sense your heater can’t provide you with warm air, you should inspect it as soon as possible. Be sure to first turn off the ECO mode as the ECO mode can sometimes be the problem. To fix this, you will have to recondition the A/C system heater and update the software.
If the fan is not functioning, you will need to test out its power inputs. If they are there but the fan still does not work, you will have to replace it.
FAQ Section
Is the Renault Zoe Getting Discontinued?
Yes, the Renault Zoe seems to be off to its eternal rest as it is going to be replaced by the upcoming Renault 5 EV. Renault thought that it would be best to revive the Renault 5 name, but the Zoe sits in the same segment which means that it had to go in order to make room for the Renault 5.
This makes sense as automakers are keen on coming out with brand-new exciting EV models with futuristic designs in order to re-establish the brand. The original Renault 5 is one of the most iconic Renault models of all time, so the new Renault 5 EV should be a really interesting car.
What Competes with Renault Zoe?
There are a few really similar cars in this segment, all of which are propelled by electricity and are small. These include the Fiat 500e which is a slightly more stylish small EV, the Mini 500 Electric which is also an iconic car, and the new Honda e which is by far the coolest-looking small electric car on the market right now.
All in all, this segment is getting re-imagined as we speak which means that all of these are going to become more and more important as time goes on.
How Many Miles Can the Renault Zoe Last?
With a battery capacity of 52.5 kWh, you should be able to do around 240 miles on a full charge. The charging rate is between 3kWh and 22kWh which is slow by today’s standards and partly why the Renault Zoe needs to be replaced with something more modern and capable of true DC fast charging.
