2007 Lotus ELISE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
31,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 8 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
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 | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering 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 10362535 · 2010-10-26 (October 26, 2010)
1. NOTHING WAS OBVIOUS LEADING YOU TO THE EVENT. 2. FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ONCE, BUT CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. 3. ENGINE WAS REPLACED ENTIRELY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405272 · 2011-06-06 (June 6, 2011)
DRIVING IN SECOND GEAR AND CHANGING INTO THIRD GEAR THE RADIATOR EXPLODED AND SPLASHED HOT COOLANT ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE ROOF ON, OTHERWISE THE HOT COOLANT COULD HAVE LANDED ON ME OR MY 8 YR. OLD SON. LOTUS USES A TERRIBLY DESIGNED RADIATOR THAT HAS PLASTIC EDGES, WHICH BECOME BRITTLE AND EXPLODE OVER TIME. THIS IS A COMMON DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON WWW.LOTUSTALK.COM. WHY THEY DO NOT USE AN ALL ALUMINUM RADIATOR, IS BEYOND ME.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420414 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)
WAS DRIVING MY 2007 LOTUS ELISE WHEN THE OIL HOSE PULLED OUT OF THE CRIMPED FITTING AT THE RIGHT REAR CONNECTION TO THE ENGINE JUST ABOVE THE OIL FILTER. THIS CAUSED ALL OF THE OIL TO QUICKLY LEAVE THE ENGINE AND COAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. I WAS LUCKY I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A CORNER, WITH TRACTION LOST ON THE REAR TIRE THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420414 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 10458242 · 2012-05-13 (May 13, 2012)
SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. RECEIVED NEW ENGINE FROM LOTUS 4/21/2012 AND HAD ABOUT 700 MILES ON NEW ENGINE. WAS DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IN MID GEARS. NOTED SOME ODD ENGINE RATTLING NOISES BRIEFLY. SECONDS LATER, STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHICH DISSIPATED. THEN SAW FLICKERING INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WHICH STOPPED BUT RESUMED AND WAS LOW OIL LIGHT WHICH WENT OUT AND THEN CAME ON FULL. STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED BY FLAT BED BACK TO LOTUS DEALER IN NJ. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,167 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482713 · 2012-10-31 (October 31, 2012)
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN THE #1 LANE WHEN I SMELLED BURNING OIL. I HADN'T NOTICED THE CAR PERFORMING DIFFERENTLY SO I LOOKED AHEAD TO THE FORWARD CARS FOR THE 'GROSS POLLUTER' CAUSING THE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE WITH MY FIRST FORWARD INSPECTION. I THEN IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT LIT ON THE DASH. AT THE SAME INSTANT I LOOKED OUT OF THE SIDE MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE POURING FROM MY CAR. (THIS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND I MAY HAVE NOTICED THE REAR SMOKE BEFORE THE OIL LIGHT.) I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, DRIFTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482713 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 ↗
Owner report 11109941 · 2018-07-06 (July 6, 2018)
THE 2007+ LOTUS ELISE/ EXIGE ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH A SHIFTER THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD A BROKEN SHIFTER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STUCK AT THE 3RD GEAR AND ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. MANY HAVE ALSO REPORTED THE SAME SITUATION. IT'S BELIEVED TO BE TRUE THAT THE BALL JOINT STRUCTURE AT THE PIVOT POINT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIFTER IS THE MAIN REASON TO THIS FAILURE. ALMOST EVERY CASE THAT HAS SURFACED ON INTERNET HAS SHOWN THE IDENTICAL BROKEN STRUCTURE WHICH WE CALLED THE "BLUE BALL". IT IS MADE WITH PLASTIC …
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 11109941 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.
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 ↗13V041000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings | Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2013-02-05 (February 5, 2013)
Lotus is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from December 1, 2006, through October 31, 2007. 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 replace the oil cooler hose fittings and the entire lateral oil cooler hose, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 4, 2013. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887.
NHTSA campaign record ↗