2006 Lotus ELISE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
32,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 17 complaints (41.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
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 | 7 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Power Train: 1; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 1; Suspension:Rear: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 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 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 8; 2012: 4; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior 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 10158149 · 2006-05-24 (May 24, 2006)
PLEASE NOTE, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE YET, BUT OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE. THE REAR SUSPENSION INNER TOE LINK HAS BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL ON THE 05 + 06 LOTUS ELISE. I HAVE SEEN FAILURES OF THIS PART SHEARING APART ON VEHICLES WITH AS LOW AS 5000 MILES. A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS PART CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNDRIVEABLE. IT IS A SERIOUS SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS OF YET. HERE IS AN INTERNET LINK THAT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE IN A LITTLE BETTER DETAIL, AND SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192737 · 2007-06-08 (June 8, 2007)
I WAS TURNING LEFT OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ACCELERATING IN A SAFE BUT ENTHUSIASTIC MANNER WHEN I FELT A VIOLENT SHUDDER/VIBRATION AT AROUND 30-35 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND FELT INCREASED DRAG AS IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND FOUND THE MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS PUSHED UP INTO THE FENDER AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HEADS HAD POPPED OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE UPPER CONTROL ARM TO THE WHEEL HUB. I POSTED THIS INFO ON A CAR FORUM AND FOUND THAT MY CAR IS NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280590 · 2009-08-16 (August 16, 2009)
BADLY WORN SECOND CAM CAUSING MISFIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363130 · 2010-10-25 (October 25, 2010)
WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN I NOTICED OIL LIGHT CAME ON. DROVE CAR TO NEARBY SERVICE STATION AND NOTICED REAR PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS COVERED IN OIL AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER CAR. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED OIL COOLER LINE. SEVERAL SOURCES (WEB FORUM, MECHANIC) HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THESE CARS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TRACTION, OR ENGINE FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10381380 · 2011-02-10 (February 10, 2011)
ON MY 2006 LOTUS ELISE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WASN'T IN A POSITION TO PULL OVER FOR A FEW MORE MILES DOWN THE ROAD. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOCKED UP AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OIL WAS IN THE TIRES AND ALL OVER THE BACK OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE OIL HOSE CAME LOSE, CAUSING THE OIL TO SPEW OUT OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO LOTUS OF S.F. MULTIPLE TIMES TO RECEIVE OTHER …
Owner-reported narrative. 58,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390528 · 2011-03-17 (March 17, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL LINE HOSE FITTINGS CONNECTION FAILED CAUSING THE OIL TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE FROM THE OIL THAT SPILLED ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE HE NOTICED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT PUT THE FIRE OUT HIMSELF AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL LINE HOSE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. …
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402119 · 2011-05-19 (May 19, 2011)
THE HOSE CONNECTING THE TWO OIL COOLERS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. I FELT THE CAR DANGEROUSLY LOSING TRACTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER AND I ALSO SAW THE OIL LIGHT COMING ON, AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HOSE, IT COST ME $775. TWO WEEKS FROM THAT, THE HOSE FITTING FAILED AGAIN, MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW, WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH THE DAMAGE IS NOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38,827 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415515 · 2011-07-28 (July 28, 2011)
OIL COOLER LINE CRIMP FITTING FAILED AT THE SANDWICH PLATE ADAPTER WHILE DRIVING ONTO A HIGHWAY RAMP. CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED IN REARVIEW MIRROR AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TURNED VEHICLE ENGINE OFF AND REPAIRED MYSELF BY MODIFYING THE CRIMP THAT FAILED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415515 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗