MOT History from tests of petrol LOTUS ELANs year 1965

Review the list of common LOTUS ELAN failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your LOTUS then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:85.76%

(The average a petrol LOTUS ELAN year 1965 passes without issue)

Based on:330 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	15
Headlamp aim out of alignment	11
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	7
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	6
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	6
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	4
Registration plate lamp issues	4
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	3
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Obligatory mirror missing \|8.1.1\|	3
Registration plate issues	3
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing \|3.3.A.1b\|	2
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user \|1.6.2b\|	2
Rear brake binding	2
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	2
Brake hose has insufficient room to move	2
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	1
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	1
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	1
Steering column top mounting bracket insecure \|2.1.2d\|	1
Direction indicators not in good working order \|function impaired\| \|1.5.A1b\|	1
Brake servo vacuum pipe collapsed \|3.6.C.1b\|	1
Nearside Inner Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Front Brake pipe fouled by moving parts \|3.6.B.2a\|	1
Offside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension damaged \|2.4.G.4a\|	1
Nearside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension damaged \|2.4.G.4a\|	1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket inappropriately repaired \|2.4.A.2\|	1
Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view \|8.2.1c\|	1
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	1
Offside Rear Brake hose leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	1
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	1
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	1
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	1
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	1
Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	1
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	1
Parking brake not fitted on at least two wheels \|3.1.1\|	1
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	1
Headlamp not working on main beam both \|1.7.5a\|	1
Horn control missing \|1.6.1\|	1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Nearside Front Track rod end loose locknut loose \|2.2.B.1d\|	1
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	1
Electrical wiring damaged, likely to cause a short starter solenoid of insulation wire bare \|1.9.2b\|	1
Electrical wiring damaged and bare wires exposed solenoid wire \|1.9.2c\|	1
Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting bolt missing loose bolt osf \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	1
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Offside Rear Fuel tank leaking \|7.2.3\|	1
Front Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Nearside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Centre Obligatory mirror does not provide a view to the rear \|8.1.2b\|	1
Offside Front Seat belt insecurely fixed to the vehicles structure \|5.2.1a\|	1
Steering wheel retaining device insecure \|2.1.6\|	1
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	1
Rear position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working wing repeater inop \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Offside Front Direction indicators not working wing repeater inop \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	1
Steering column universal joint insecure \|2.1.5\|	1
Nearside Rear Front drive shaft coupling flexible rubber or fabric coupling unit breaking up \|2.5.C.1d\|	1
Brake cable knotted \|3.5.1b\|	1
Offside Statutory seat belt missing \|5.1.1\|	1
Steering column movement between the shaft and steering wheel \|2.1.2b\|	1
Offside Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Indicator tell tale inoperative \|1.4.A.2a\|	1
Hazard warning lamps inoperative \|1.4.B.1b\|	1
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Offside Front Radius arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Nearside Front Shock absorber insecure \|2.7.2b\|	1
Offside Front Shock absorber insecure \|2.7.2b\|	1
Offside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Nearside Rear Torque/reaction arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Offside Rear Torque/reaction arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Front Brake pipe leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	1
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	1
Offside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	1
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	1
Steering column universal joint has excessive play \|2.1.5\|	1
Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover missing \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	1
Nearside Front Vehicle structure is damaged, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured \|5.2.6\|	1
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured \|5.2.6\|	1
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured \|5.2.6\|	1
Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))	1
Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))	1
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))	1
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	1
Nearside Front Brake hose connection leaking on an air braking system (1.1.12 (c) (i))	1

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Most common failures	No# failures
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	15
Headlamp aim out of alignment	11
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	7
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	6
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	6
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	4
Registration plate lamp issues	4
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	3
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Obligatory mirror missing \|8.1.1\|	3
Registration plate issues	3
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing \|3.3.A.1b\|	2
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user \|1.6.2b\|	2
Rear brake binding	2
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	2
Brake hose has insufficient room to move	2
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	1
Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	1
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	1
Steering column top mounting bracket insecure \|2.1.2d\|	1
Direction indicators not in good working order \|function impaired\| \|1.5.A1b\|	1
Brake servo vacuum pipe collapsed \|3.6.C.1b\|	1
Nearside Inner Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Front Brake pipe fouled by moving parts \|3.6.B.2a\|	1
Offside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension damaged \|2.4.G.4a\|	1
Nearside Rear Drive shaft which forms part of the suspension damaged \|2.4.G.4a\|	1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket inappropriately repaired \|2.4.A.2\|	1
Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view \|8.2.1c\|	1
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	1
Offside Rear Brake hose leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	1
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	1
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	1
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	1
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	1
Offside Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users \|1.8.A.1a\|	1
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	1
Parking brake not fitted on at least two wheels \|3.1.1\|	1
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	1
Headlamp not working on main beam both \|1.7.5a\|	1
Horn control missing \|1.6.1\|	1
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Nearside Front Track rod end loose locknut loose \|2.2.B.1d\|	1
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	1
Electrical wiring damaged, likely to cause a short starter solenoid of insulation wire bare \|1.9.2b\|	1
Electrical wiring damaged and bare wires exposed solenoid wire \|1.9.2c\|	1
Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting bolt missing loose bolt osf \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	1
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Offside Rear Fuel tank leaking \|7.2.3\|	1
Front Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced \|1.7.5a\|	1
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Nearside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Centre Obligatory mirror does not provide a view to the rear \|8.1.2b\|	1
Offside Front Seat belt insecurely fixed to the vehicles structure \|5.2.1a\|	1
Steering wheel retaining device insecure \|2.1.6\|	1
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	1
Rear position lamp\|s\| adversely affected by the operation of another lamp \|1.1.A.3f\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working wing repeater inop \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Offside Front Direction indicators not working wing repeater inop \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	1
Steering column universal joint insecure \|2.1.5\|	1
Nearside Rear Front drive shaft coupling flexible rubber or fabric coupling unit breaking up \|2.5.C.1d\|	1
Brake cable knotted \|3.5.1b\|	1
Offside Statutory seat belt missing \|5.1.1\|	1
Steering column movement between the shaft and steering wheel \|2.1.2b\|	1
Offside Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Indicator tell tale inoperative \|1.4.A.2a\|	1
Hazard warning lamps inoperative \|1.4.B.1b\|	1
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Offside Front Radius arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Nearside Front Shock absorber insecure \|2.7.2b\|	1
Offside Front Shock absorber insecure \|2.7.2b\|	1
Offside Rear Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Nearside Rear Torque/reaction arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Offside Rear Torque/reaction arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure \|2.4.G.1\|	1
Front Brake pipe leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	1
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	1
Offside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	1
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	1
Steering column universal joint has excessive play \|2.1.5\|	1
Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover missing \|2.4.G.2\|	1
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	1
Nearside Front Vehicle structure is damaged, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured \|5.2.6\|	1
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured \|5.2.6\|	1
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured \|5.2.6\|	1
Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))	1
Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))	1
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))	1
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	1
Nearside Front Brake hose connection leaking on an air braking system (1.1.12 (c) (i))	1

MOT History from tests of petrol LOTUS ELANs year 1965

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