Lotus MOT pass rates and reliability
We have 7,820 MOT tests on Lotus cars from 2023, covering 3 models with enough tests to compare. Choose a model to see what it fails on most often, how its pass rate changes with age and how far it is typically driven.
Across 7,820 MOT tests on Lotus cars in 2023, 84% passed first time, above the national average of 71% for all cars. Of the Lotus models with enough tests, the Exige did best at 90% and the Elan did least well at 76%. Newer models pass more often whatever the make, so compare cars of a similar age.
Lotus models
What Lotus cars fail on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, across all models, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics6.8% (all cars 11.3%)
- Exhaust and emissions4.3% (all cars 3.1%)
- Brakes3.7% (all cars 6.8%)
- Visibility3.6% (all cars 4.8%)
- Suspension2.2% (all cars 9.0%)
- Tyres1.0% (all cars 6.4%)
- Body and structure0.9% (all cars 3.5%)
- Number plates and VIN0.9% (all cars 0.4%)
Most common Lotus failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 1.2%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 1.1%
- Position lamp: not working 1.1%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 1.0%
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements 0.9%
- Headlamp aim: too high 0.8%
- Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits 0.8%
- Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits 0.7%
Check a particular Lotus
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.