2005 Lotus ELISE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
28,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 46 complaints (39.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.2% |
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 | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Visibility | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine: 3; Visibility: 3; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 3 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 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2006: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 11; 2011: 17; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10155292 · 2006-04-13 (April 13, 2006)
SUB: 2005 LOTUS ELISE NHTSA RECALL #05V-571 [XXX]. I LIVE IN NICHOLASVILLE KENTUCKY & DEALER IS IN ATLANTA GA. DRIVING THERE WOULD BE 12 HRS ON THE ROAD + $$ FOR ACCOMMODATIONS & TRAVEL EXPENSES, CAR MILEAGE & DEPRECIATION. FAILURE & I WOULD BE STRANDED & WITH MORE EXPENSE. I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER, REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER & FORMER AUTO MECHANIC, I HAVE WORKED IN THE AREA OF AUTO SAFETY > 40 YEARS. AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HAZARDS OF FAILURE I SUGGESTED TO DEALER SERVICE MGR & LOTUS WARRANTY MGR, THAT I HAVE THE ABIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10155292 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 10223046 · 2008-04-01 (April 1, 2008)
ROCKER ARM BROKEN ON CYLINDER THREE. MULTIPLE CARS (~20) HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED THE SAME FAILURE ON THE SAME CYLINDER. SOLD CAR IN QUESTION AS MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO FIX DESPITE THE FACT THE REASONS FOR DENIAL WERE NOT THE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $4600-6500. SAID BASES OF DENIAL CHANGED TO SUIT MANUFACTURER'S STANCE OF NOT WARRANTING THE REPAIR WHEN INFORMATION TO THE CONTRARY WAS PROVIDED. MANUFACTURER HAS WARRANTED SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE PAST BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS. STILL HAVE PORTION O…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,293 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236940 · 2008-08-04 (August 4, 2008)
2005 LOTUS ELISE HAS A DEFECTIVE INTAKE CAM THAT USUALLY FLATTENS OUT OVER CYLINDER 3 CAUSING VALVE ENGINE DAMAGE. MY CAR HAS 7,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248838 · 2008-11-14 (November 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS INOPERATIVE, WHICH REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING COLD WEATHER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RESISTOR PACK CORRODED BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,000. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A TSB RATHER THAN A RECALL, AND BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280908 · 2009-08-18 (August 18, 2009)
PREMATURE WEARING ON CAM SHAFT IN ENGINE RESULTING IN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282538 · 2009-09-01 (September 1, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING A RAIN STORM THE FRONT DEFROSTER WOULD NOT OPERATE, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED HIS VISIBILITY AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASH WERE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAN MOTOR PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23000.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282538 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V571000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2005-12-29 (December 29, 2005)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE GEAR LEVER MAY BREAK.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO CHANGE GEARS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR LEVERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LOTUS CARS USA AT 1-800-245-6887.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V510000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings | Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2011-10-14 (October 14, 2011)
LOTUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELISE AND EXIGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2006. THE OIL COOLER LINE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM ITS FITTING.
Consequence: A DETACHED OIL LINE COULD SPRAY OIL ON A TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR IT COULD SPRAY OIL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: LOTUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LOTUS AT 1-800-245-6887.
NHTSA campaign record ↗