Hello fellow Zoe owners. I'm not asking for practical help; I would like to know whether you have experienced the fault which has twice put my car out of action.
My Zoe is the 25kwh version, as sold in 2016, bought second-hand in 2018. In July 2020, at 11000 miles, it suddenly showed no sign of life. After diagnosing a fault with the "DC-to-DC converter", which maintains the charge in the 12v battery from the 400v traction battery, this unit was replaced under warranty by the local dealer (City Motors) in Bristol.
However, an identical failure of the 12v charging system occurred in February this year at about 13500 miles. This time the fault was attributed to the "rectifier". As the warranty has now expired, after 3 a month wait for the replacement, I have paid about £2000 for work and parts. This seemed exorbitant, until I saw that the whole front section of the car had to be dismantled, which entailed removing the wheels, drive shafts, electric motor, gearbox, a large air-cooled electronics box, draining the coolant and air-con, all to access the faulty unit in the electronics box.
All this has made me disappointed in the design of the Zoe: (a) there was no warning that the 12v battery was not being charged, (b) the double failure of vital electronic system in a very low mileage car, and (c) the system design which necessitates extensive dismantling for repair. I have pestered Renault customer services, and the UK managing director, but their response is that such failures are not common. Sorry about such a long posting. Is this a case of considerable bad luck, or are faults with the 12v charging system more common than Renault admit?
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My Zoe is the 25kwh version, as sold in 2016, bought second-hand in 2018. In July 2020, at 11000 miles, it suddenly showed no sign of life. After diagnosing a fault with the "DC-to-DC converter", which maintains the charge in the 12v battery from the 400v traction battery, this unit was replaced under warranty by the local dealer (City Motors) in Bristol.
However, an identical failure of the 12v charging system occurred in February this year at about 13500 miles. This time the fault was attributed to the "rectifier". As the warranty has now expired, after 3 a month wait for the replacement, I have paid about £2000 for work and parts. This seemed exorbitant, until I saw that the whole front section of the car had to be dismantled, which entailed removing the wheels, drive shafts, electric motor, gearbox, a large air-cooled electronics box, draining the coolant and air-con, all to access the faulty unit in the electronics box.
All this has made me disappointed in the design of the Zoe: (a) there was no warning that the 12v battery was not being charged, (b) the double failure of vital electronic system in a very low mileage car, and (c) the system design which necessitates extensive dismantling for repair. I have pestered Renault customer services, and the UK managing director, but their response is that such failures are not common. Sorry about such a long posting. Is this a case of considerable bad luck, or are faults with the 12v charging system more common than Renault admit?
