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Lotus Elan reliability by build year

Coverage 1962-19952 named generationsConvertiblePETROL
At a glance

Lotus Elan built before 2000: about average at the MOT

Lotus Elans built before 2000 fail their MOT a little less often than similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Check a Lotus Elan by number plate

Key figure

19% of MOT tests on Lotus Elans built before 2000 ended in a fail (retests included), against 22% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Lotus Elans built before 2000 involves the wheels and wheel bearings.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Lotus Elan's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Axles & Wheels

Worth checking

Inspect the axles & wheels carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension springs

Worth checking

Check ride height is even side-to-side and look for cracked or rusted coils.

Leaks

Worth checking

Inspect the leaks carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Elan's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

E

Elan M100 (1989–1995) (1989-1995)

Excellent
PETROL

19.1% fail rate, built before 2000 (over 25 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 25.2%)

From 1,547 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Lotus Elan.

See every build year for the Lotus Elan

By age

Lotus Elan fail rate by age

This chart combines every Lotus Elan ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
1,54719.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 25+ years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 25+ year old Lotus Elans

These issues come from 25+ year old Lotus Elans, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    8.7%
    Advisory: 148Fail: 3 (2% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Wheel bearing has slight play

    8.6%
    Advisory: 175Fail: 15 (8% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    6.3%
    Advisory: 133Fail: 4 (3% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Coil spring corroded

    6.1%
    Advisory: 165Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    4.6%
    Advisory: 109Fail: 3 (3% of the times it was found)

Based on 1,547 MOT tests on 25+ year old Lotus Elans, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 25+ year old Lotus Elans notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelEnough data
  1. Brakes + Other30%
  2. Brakes + Suspension26%
  3. Other + Suspension22%
  4. Brakes + Lighting21%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 467 MOT tests on Lotus Elan cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Lotus Elan.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

DVSA's recall list has no recalls filed under the Lotus Elan name. For the exact car, check with the maker or GOV.UK's recall checker.

Like-for-like

Other convertibles to compare

Other convertibles to compare

  1. 1

    TVR Chimaera

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.3%
    Dangerous
    2.1%

    Lower fail rate: 12.5%, against 19.1% for the Lotus Elan, both built before 2000.

    2,536 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  2. 2

    Triumph TR6

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4.9%
    Dangerous
    2.4%

    Lower fail rate: 12.9%, against 19.1% for the Lotus Elan, both built before 2000.

    1,028 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  3. 3

    Morgan 4/4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6%
    Dangerous
    1.9%

    Lower fail rate: 15.2%, against 19.1% for the Lotus Elan, both built before 2000.

    1,071 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  4. 4

    Triumph Stag

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15.7%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    5.6%
    Dangerous
    2.3%

    Lower fail rate: 15.7%, against 19.1% for the Lotus Elan, both built before 2000.

    1,436 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built before 2000 (over 25 years old), the Lotus Elan across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. This is based on 1,547 25+ year old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Lotus Elan ever sold: 1,547 tests. The main figures are for cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old): 1,547 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.