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Lotus Elise reliability by build year

Coverage 2001-20212 named generationsConvertiblePETROL
At a glance

Lotus Elise built before 2000: fails its MOT less often than average

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

Check a Lotus Elise by number plate

Key figure

15% of MOT tests on Lotus Elises 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 Elises built before 2000 involves the brakes.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

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

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Suspension springs

Worth checking

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

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

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 Elise's generation

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

Elise Series 3

Series 3 (2011-2021)

Excellent
PETROL

5.5% fail rate, built around 2016 (9 years old)

Likely between 2.5% and 11.5%

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 5 MOTs, 20.8%)

From 109 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Elise Series 2

Series 2 (2001-2010)

Excellent
PETROL

14.0% fail rate, built around 2002 (23 years old)

Likely between 11.0% and 17.6%

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 30.1%)

From 415 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 Elise.

See every build year for the Lotus Elise

Side-by-side

Lotus Elise generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
Series 3 (2011-2021)
Excellent
Excellent5.5%likely between 2.5% and 11.5%built around 2016 (9 years old)from 109 MOT tests at this age
Series 2 (2001-2010)
Excellent
Excellent14.0%likely between 11.0% and 17.6%built around 2002 (23 years old)from 415 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Elise, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Lotus Elise fail rate by age

This chart combines every Lotus Elise 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
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
656.2%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
952.1%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
766.6%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
916.6%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
888.0%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
9310.8%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
1095.5%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
9910.1%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
739.6%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
5014.0%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
10810.2%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
10110.9%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
13813.0%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
22914.0%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
2388.4%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
2549.4%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
26013.1%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
32111.2%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
36313.5%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
41514.0%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
30016.0%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
2,02614.8%

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 24 years old.

All generations of this model

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

These issues come from 25+ year old Lotus Elises, 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

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    5.1%
    Advisory: 125Fail: 12 (9% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    4.4%
    Advisory: 161Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    3.9%
    Advisory: 126Fail: 5 (4% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Coil spring corroded

    3.7%
    Advisory: 157Fail: 0 (0% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Major

    Exhaust emissions above the limit

    3.3%
    Advisory: 3Fail: 92 (97% of the times it was found)

Based on 2,026 MOT tests on 25+ year old Lotus Elises, 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 Elises 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 + Suspension26%
  2. Other + Suspension14%
  3. Steering + Suspension14%
  4. Lighting + Suspension13%

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

Across 415 MOT tests on Lotus Elise 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 Elise.

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

10 recalls in all

All 10 Lotus Elise recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 2 Critical
  • 8 more

Top concerns

  • Risk of fire
  • Possibility of fuel leakage
  • Bolts securing the fuel rail to the cyclinder head may fail.

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

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 14.8% for the Lotus Elise, both built before 2000.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    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%

    No clear edge over the Lotus Elise on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,028 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  3. 3

    BMW Z3

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    24.8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    11%
    Dangerous
    4.1%

    No clear edge over the Lotus Elise on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    9,349 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  4. 4

    Mercedes-Benz SL

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    17.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.5%

    No clear edge over the Lotus Elise on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    5,842 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.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built before 2000 (over 25 years old), the Lotus Elise across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. This is based on 2,026 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 Elise ever sold: 5,592 tests. The main figures are for cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old): 2,026 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.