Lotus Elise MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Lotus Elise took 5,150 MOT tests in Britain and passed 85% of them first time, above the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.
- MOT tests in 2023
- 5,150
- First-time pass rate
- 85%
- All cars
- 71%
What the Elise fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics6.4% (all cars 11.3%)
- Exhaust and emissions4.4% (all cars 3.1%)
- Visibility3.7% (all cars 4.8%)
- Suspension2.1% (all cars 9.0%)
- Brakes2.1% (all cars 6.8%)
- Tyres1.1% (all cars 6.4%)
- Number plates and VIN1.0% (all cars 0.4%)
- Steering0.8% (all cars 1.8%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 1.5%
- Position lamp: not working 1.5%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 1.3%
- Headlamp aim: too high 1.2%
- Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits 1.2%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 1.1%
- Washers: not working 1.1%
- Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits 0.9%
Most common advisories
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 5.4%
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 5.1%
- Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) 3.1%
- Brake pads: wearing thin 3.1%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 2.5%
- Coil spring: corroded 2.5%
- Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material 1.9%
- Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil 1.7%
Pass rate by year of registration
Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.
| First registered | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 626 | 81% |
| 1999 | 665 | 82% |
| 2000 | 515 | 85% |
| 2002 | 410 | 84% |
Typical mileage by age
Average odometer reading at the MOT, by the car's age in years at the test.
| Age at test | Average mileage |
|---|---|
| 4 years | 8,602 miles |
| 8 years | 22,628 miles |
| 13 years | 35,878 miles |
| 14 years | 38,640 miles |
| 15 years | 41,966 miles |
| 16 years | 44,988 miles |
| 17 years | 43,051 miles |
| 18 years | 49,254 miles |
| 19 years | 51,163 miles |
| 20 years | 55,489 miles |
Check a particular Elise
Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.
Other Lotus models
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.