MOT History from tests of petrol LOTUS ELISEs year 1997

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

mot history

Pass percent:72.72%

(The average a petrol LOTUS ELISE year 1997 passes without issue)

Based on:5,887 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	488
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	281
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	204
Registration plate issues	195
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	170
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	151
Registration plate lamp issues	101
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	91
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	74
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	70
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	46
Brake pipe excessively corroded	44
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	41
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	40
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	39
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	36
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	30
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	28
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	27
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	27
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	27
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	26
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	24
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	23
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	23
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	23
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	22
Rear brake binding	22
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	22
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	22
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	19
Windscreen has damage	19
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	18
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	18
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	17
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	17
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	16
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	16
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	15
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	15
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	15
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	14
Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard \|7.1.3\|	14
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	14
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	13
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits \|8.2.1.2 \|b\|\|	13
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	13
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	13
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	12
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	12
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	12
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	12
Windscreen washer not working	12
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	11
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	11
Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1b\|	11
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	11
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	10
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	10
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	10
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	10
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	10
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	9
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	9
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	9
Rear fog lamp switch faulty \|1.3.1a\|	9
Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly \|1.4.B.1e\|	9
Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	8
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|8.2.1.2 \|c\|\|	8
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	8
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	8
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	8
Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	8
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	7
Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	7
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	7
Hazard warning lamps inoperative \|1.4.B.1b\|	7
Offside Front Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	7
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	7
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	7
Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	7
All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	7
Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	7
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	6
Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	6
Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	6
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	6
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	6
Nearside Front Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	6
Nearside Rear Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	6
Offside Rear Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	6
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	6
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	6
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	6
Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	6
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	6
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5
Offside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	5
Nearside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	5
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	5
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	5
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	5
Exhaust engine idle speed too high \|7.3.D.1\|	5
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	5
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	5
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	5
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	5
Emissions not tested \|8.2.1.2 \|d\|\|	5
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	5
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	5
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off \|1.4.B.1f\|	5
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	5
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	5
Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5

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
Headlamp aim out of alignment	488
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	281
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|7.3.D.3\|	204
Registration plate issues	195
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive \|7.3.D.4\|	170
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	151
Registration plate lamp issues	101
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive \|7.3.D.3\|	91
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	74
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	70
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	46
Brake pipe excessively corroded	44
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	41
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	40
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	39
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	36
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	30
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	28
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	27
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	27
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))	27
Offside Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	26
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	24
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	23
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	23
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	23
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	22
Rear brake binding	22
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	22
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	22
Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	19
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	19
Windscreen has damage	19
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	18
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working \|1.3.1b\|	18
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	17
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	17
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	16
Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	16
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	15
Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	15
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	15
Offside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	14
Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard \|7.1.3\|	14
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	14
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	13
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits \|8.2.1.2 \|b\|\|	13
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	13
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	13
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	12
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	12
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	12
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	12
Windscreen washer not working	12
Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	11
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	11
Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1b\|	11
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	11
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	10
Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect \|1.8.A.1b\|	10
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	10
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	10
Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	10
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	9
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	9
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	9
Rear fog lamp switch faulty \|1.3.1a\|	9
Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly \|1.4.B.1e\|	9
Offside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	8
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits \|8.2.1.2 \|c\|\|	8
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	8
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	8
Offside Rear coil spring fractured \|2.4.C.1a\|	8
Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	8
Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	7
Offside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	7
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	7
Hazard warning lamps inoperative \|1.4.B.1b\|	7
Offside Front Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	7
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	7
Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	7
Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	7
All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	7
Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))	7
Nearside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	6
Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	6
Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	6
Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	6
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	6
Nearside Front Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	6
Nearside Rear Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	6
Offside Rear Wheel nut\|s\| missing \|4.2.A.1e\|	6
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	6
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	6
Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	6
Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	6
Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))	6
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	6
Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint \|2.5.B.1a\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5
Offside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	5
Nearside Front Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	5
Offside Side repeater not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	5
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	5
Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated \|7.1.1a\|	5
Exhaust engine idle speed too high \|7.3.D.1\|	5
Nearside Front Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	5
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	5
Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	5
Nearside Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside \|1.8\|	5
Emissions not tested \|8.2.1.2 \|d\|\|	5
Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	5
Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	5
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	5
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off \|1.4.B.1f\|	5
Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working \|1.3.2b\|	5
Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour \|1.4.A.2f\|	5
Nearside Rear Tie bar/rod has excessive play in a ball joint \|2.4.G.2\|	5

MOT History from tests of petrol LOTUS ELISEs year 1997

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