Lotus Exige MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the Lotus Exige took 1,289 MOT tests in Britain and passed 90% 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
- 1,289
- First-time pass rate
- 90%
- All cars
- 71%
What the Exige fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Lights and electrics4.3% (all cars 11.3%)
- Exhaust and emissions2.5% (all cars 3.1%)
- Visibility2.0% (all cars 4.8%)
- Tyres1.2% (all cars 6.4%)
- Suspension1.1% (all cars 9.0%)
- Number plates and VIN0.9% (all cars 0.4%)
- Brakes0.9% (all cars 6.8%)
- Body and structure0.3% (all cars 3.5%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 1.1%
- Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1.0%
- Headlamp aim: too low 0.9%
- Registration plates: does not conform to the specified requirements 0.8%
- Position lamp: not working 0.8%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 0.7%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 0.7%
- Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits 0.6%
Most common advisories
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 7.4%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 5.1%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 1.6%
- Brake pads: wearing thin 1.6%
- Coil spring: corroded 1.5%
- Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement 0.8%
- Flexible brake hoses: has slight corrosion to ferrule 0.6%
- Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil 0.6%
Check a particular Exige
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.