Lotus ELISE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
72 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
29,134 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 66 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 72 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 28 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Suspension:Rear | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 28; Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 7; Electrical System: 4; Power Train: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Suspension:Rear: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 27 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 5; 2010: 13; 2011: 27; 2012: 14; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10414719 · 2011-07-22 (July 22, 2011)
FAILURE OF OIL LINE CONNECTOR. SPREAD OIL OVER FRONT BRAKE, SO AS TO MAKE CAR STOP POORLY. HAS HAPPENED TWICE: ONCE WHEN CAR WAS 1 MONTH OLD, NOW 6 YRS LATER. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10414719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10427071 · 2011-09-25 (September 25, 2011)
OEM OIL COOLING LINE CRIMP LET GO THAT IS IN FRONT WHEEL WELL TO OIL COOLER. ENGINE OIL POURED ALL OVER FRONT TIRE AND BRAKES. EVEN AT 15 MPH I LOST CONTROL. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10427071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165085 · 2006-08-09 (August 9, 2006)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPPED UNEXPECTEDLY OUT OF 5TH GEAR DURING HARD DRIVING CAUSING DRIVER TO SELECT WRONG GEAR IN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE PLACING OF THE TRANSMISSION INTO 3RD GEAR BY MISTAKE LED TO CATASTROPHIC OVER-REVVING OF THE ENGINE WITH ENGINE FAILURE (TOTAL LOSS). DEALER HAD BEEN ADVISED REGARDING THE POPPING OUT OF GEAR PRIOR TO THE FATAL EVENT AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACE AND IN SPITE OF DEALER ASSESSMENT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM NOW HAS WORSENED TO GRINDING OF THE GEARS …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166642 · 2006-08-27 (August 27, 2006)
1) AT FIRST 1ST TO 2ND UP SHIFT AND 3RD TO 2ND DOWN SHIFT WAS GRINDING AT ABOUT 5000 RPM. SHIFTING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 2ND. NOW 3RD TO 2ND DOWN SHIFTING GRINDS AT EVERY RPM AND 1ST TO 2ND SHIFT IS VERY DIFFICULT. DIAGNOSED BY MECHNANIC AS SYNHRO FAILURE. 2) 2ND GEAR SYNCHRO FAILURE. CAN'T UPSHIFT WELL AND DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND GRINDS GEAR AND DESTROYS GEAR. UNSAFE WHEN YOU CAN'T GET INTO GEAR. 3) LOTUS USA AND THE DEALERSHIP AUTOSTRADA USA HAVE DENIED WARRANTY CLAIM. THEY WON'T FIX THE TRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447649 · 2012-02-12 (February 12, 2012)
WIRING ON AUTO HAS BEEN A MESS SINCE NEW, AUTO TOWED 15 TIMES FOR MECHANICAL REASONS AND ADDITION TIMES TOW TRUCK WAS COMING AND CAR WOULD START. SHIFTER BROKE OFF AT 2,000 MILES, TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES ALARM SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR,SPEAKERS,TURN INDICATORS, FRONT STEERING BOX (RACK), VEHICLE COMPUTER (SPEED INDICATED ON DASH HAS BEEN AT LEST 15% HIGH SINCE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED)-- HAVE ALL FAILED. LOTUS DEALERSHIPS WHERE NEVER ABLE TO LOCATE OR FIX WIRING PROBLEM (FOX VALLEY, AURORA IL ANOTHER LAKE FOREST HAS NO AUTHORIZED…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455149 · 2012-04-07 (April 7, 2012)
AWARE OF NHTSA RECALL # 11V-510 HAVING RECEIVED LETTER FROM LOTUS CARS USA BUT WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE WAS PROBABLY NOT AFFECTED. MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF OIL LEAKAGE ANYWAY BUT SAW NOTHING: NO CHANGE IN OIL LEVEL ON DIPSTICK CHECKS, NO SIGNS OF OIL UNDER CAR. WHILE ACCELERATING ON EXPRESSWAY, HAD LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND NOTICED SOME DIFFICULTY STEERING DUE TO SLICKNESS AS CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE HALT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. RIGHT SIDE OF CAR WAS COVERED IN OIL, APPARENTLY ORIGINATING AT OIL COOLER LOCATED IN FRONT OF RIGHT FRONT WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482729 · 2012-10-31 (October 31, 2012)
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND MOVED INTO THE #2 LANE AND WAS ACCELERATING. I LOOKED OUT MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DUST CLOUD BEHIND ME. I LOOKED AT THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME EXPECTING TO SEE SOME DIRT ON THE ROAD, BUT THERE WASN'T ANY. I LOOKED BACK AND IT SEEMED THAT IT WAS LIKE A DIRTY BROWN SMOKE. I WAS MY CAR. (I LATER REALIZED THE CLOUD WAS A SPRAY OF OIL MIST.) I WAS GOING 65 OR 70 MPH AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL WITH THE DRIVABILITY. I LOOKED AT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL & NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON. I SHOT OVER TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482729 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2