Lotus Excel
From 340 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are emissions levels exceed default limits, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, emissions levels exceed default limits, caused 18 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 18 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 12 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 10 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 10 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 6 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 6 |
| a door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 6 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 6 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 6 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 4 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 23.8% of Excel 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 £83.
Typical mileage
Half of all Excels tested had between 25,349 and 78,263 miles on the clock.
At 53,347 median miles, the Excel has 0.033 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Lotus models
| Lotus Elise | 88% |
| Lotus Elan | 78.9% |
| Lotus Exige | 92.4% |
| Lotus Esprit | 88.6% |
Common questions
What is the Lotus Excel MOT pass rate?
The Lotus Excel has a 82.6% MOT pass rate based on 340 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Lotus Excel?
The most common MOT failure on the Lotus Excel is emissions levels exceed default limits, which caused 18 failures. Other common issues include a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led.
What is the typical mileage of a Lotus Excel at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Lotus Excel is 53,347 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 25,349 and 78,263 miles.
Buying a used Excel?
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.
With a 82.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £83 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.