Lotus Elise
From 8,617 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Elises fare better: 2020 models pass at 96.8% vs 85% for 1998.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are emissions levels exceed default limits, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer. The top issue, emissions levels exceed default limits, caused 164 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 164 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 149 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 134 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 129 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 73 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 69 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 65 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 38 |
| a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 37 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 33 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 4.2% of Elise failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £96.
Lotus Elise on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 32 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 4 newly registered, a net loss of 28. Now at 72.3% of its peak (10,131 in 2007 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 4,487 | 2,840 | +1 | -1 | +0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,573 | 2,754 | +1 | -0 | +20 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,621 | 3,686 | +0 | -0 | +25 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,484 | 3,798 | +2 | -31 | -29 |
| 2024 Q3 | 4,530 | 2,781 | +1 | -0 | +46 |
| 2024 Q2 | 4,657 | 2,608 | +0 | -0 | +361 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,887 | 3,017 | +0 | -396 | -396 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,643 | 3,657 | +1 | -52 | -51 |
13 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elise | Petrol | 1,926 | 51% |
| Elise 111S | Petrol | 587 | 15% |
| Elise S | Petrol | 225 | 6% |
| Elise Sport 220 | Petrol | 224 | 6% |
| Elise 111R (Touring) | Petrol | 216 | 6% |
| Elise S Touring | Petrol | 111 | 3% |
| Elise S Tour | Petrol | 106 | 3% |
| Elise Cup 250 | Petrol | 102 | 3% |
| Elise 111R Tour | Petrol | 77 | 2% |
| Elise 16V | Petrol | 77 | 2% |
| Elise Sport 160 | Petrol | 56 | 1% |
| Elise Sc T | Petrol | 51 | 1% |
| Elise Sport 240 | Petrol | 51 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 96.8% | an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2019 | 95.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2018 | 89.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2017 | 92.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
18 earlier years
| 2016 | 91.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2015 | 98.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 89.9% | parking brake inoperative on one side, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2013 | 96.2% | a shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2010 | 89.6% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2009 | 92.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2008 | 89.3% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, warning device shows system malfunction |
| 2007 | 87.9% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 88.2% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 2005 | 93.5% | emissions levels exceed default limits, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2004 | 86.4% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated |
| 2003 | 84.6% | emissions levels exceed default limits, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2002 | 88.7% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2001 | 89.4% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 83.2% | a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1999 | 87.5% | a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 1998 | 85% | emissions levels exceed default limits, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1997 | 80.5% | emissions levels exceed default limits, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all Elises tested had between 13,292 and 58,861 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 39,838 median miles, the Elise has 0.03 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Lotus models
| Lotus Elan | 78.9% |
| Lotus Exige | 92.4% |
| Lotus Esprit | 88.6% |
Common questions
What is the Lotus Elise MOT pass rate?
The Lotus Elise has a 88% MOT pass rate based on 8,617 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Lotus Elise?
The most common MOT failure on the Lotus Elise is emissions levels exceed default limits, which caused 164 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Lotus Elises are on UK roads?
There are 4,487 Lotus Elises currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,840 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Lotus Elise at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Lotus Elise is 39,838 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 13,292 and 58,861 miles.
Buying a used Elise?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.