Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its...
Engine & cooling
Lotus Elise Engine problems by year
51 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Lotus Elise's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
Engine complaints by model year
Engine recalls
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.
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.
Latest Elise engine complaints
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lotus elise. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, smoke began to emit in and around the vehicle. The contact attempted to engage the brakes but the pedal sank to the floor. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the oil cooler line fractured causing a leak and as a result, the oil cooler and brakes needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 41,187. The current mileage was 42,250.
I have an inquire in regard to my 2006 lotus elise (vin [[redacted]]) oil line issue that happened on 12/11/13. I was driving normally and the engine light came on all the sudden. I pulled over shortly after. While waiting for the tow truck, I already can see that the engine oil was leaking from the front right side. My car was towed to a local repair shop and found that the oil line was dis-attached from the connector. I had been trying to the called the lotus usa # 1800-245-6887 since the incident...
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(12/11/13). I called on 3 different days (12/11/13, 12/20/13, and 12/23/13); called 5-6 times, and left 3 voice messages to [[redacted]] with my name, the inquiry, and my phone #, and until to date (11/24/13) no one ever called back. [[redacted]] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
Nhtsa recall #11v-510. On 11/11/13 I made an appointment for 11/18/13 to have the referenced recall work performed on my 2005 lotus elise at star motor cars in houston, tx. On 11/18/13 I brought the car to star motor cars to have the recall work done. Today is 11/26 and the work has not been completed and star motor cars cannot tell me a date that it will be completed. Star motor cars has failed to perform the recall work in a timely manner. *Tr
2005 Lotus elise. Consumer writes in regards to denial of reimbursement for repair of vehicles oil cooler line. *Smd the consumer stated a recall was issued for the exact problem he experienced. The manufacturer claimed the failure took place outside of the date range as set for in the reimbursement plan. The consumer stated there was no explanation of how the date range was set. He stated the recall explained the defect was on lotus vehicle manufactured from 2004-2006. The consumer stated he purchased his vehicle in march 2006. The failure occurred six months out warranty in november 2009. The consumer stated for some reason, the reimbursement window began october 5, 2010.
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...
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light was on. I shot over to the exit and to the off-ramp. The car seemed to be straining on the off ramp and on the verge of stalling but it was still running. I couldn't stop on the off ramp and luckily I had a green light so I turned right and then right again at the next block and pulled into a commercial driveway and shut the car off. I probably drove a total of about a half mile with the oil leaking out. There was a trail of oil on the road and a puddle developed under the car where I stopped. When I got out to inspect the car I found the passenger side of the car and back of the car (and underneath) was covered in oil. Both the front and rear passenger wheels were covered in oil. No oil was on the driver side at all. The oil leak / loss seemed to be in the front of the car and on the passenger side. It was I don't recall anything odd happening with the car. It didn't feel like I hit anything or that anything??Broke?? As I was driving it. The oil cloud?? In my rear view mirror was my first sign that something had happened. I later found out from my mechanic that the oil line coupling had failed in the front where it connected to the oil cooler. After the event I wondered about the cars behind me on the freeway and what it was like for them following me after the release of 10 quarts of oil onto the freeway and their windshields. *Tr
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...
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put the car into neutral, drifted through 3 lanes of traffic to the next exit which was within 1000 or so feet. I drifted off the exit onto the main street and into the gas station on the corner. My wife came soon after and noticed the large oil spill on the freeway road surface where it occurred. When I went to inspect the car when I stopped at the gas station I saw several oil puddle forming in the rear on the ground (in the middle and on the passenger side), the rear of the car was covered in oil, the passenger rear wheel was covered in oil including the braking system on that side, oil was dripping from the bottom of the car onto the ground, and smoke was pouring from the engine bay. When I opened the engine bay it was smoking and covered with oil. I was a little concerned that it could catch fire, however it didn't. I called a tow truck and towed it to my mechanic. After the event I was wondering about the cars behind me on the freeway and what it was like for them following me after my car released 10 quarts of oil onto the freeway and onto their windshields. I later found out that the oil line coupling had failed in the rear. This was the second time that this occurred to me with this car. *Tr
Front oil cooler hose blew off spraying underside of car with oil. Pulled vehicle over and towed to dealer for maintenance fix. *Tr
Right side oil cooler hose blew off while traveling at 65mph spraying oil over the right back tire. The engine seized and car coasted to a stop position on side of road. Car was inoperable and towed to dealer. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lotus elise. The contact stated that he received a recall notice in january 2012 for nhtsa campaign id number:11v510000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that he tried to get the vehicle repaired but the manufacturer stated that they were working on trying to determine how to repair the vehicle. The contact stated he wanted to get the vehicle repaired but it was taking too long for the vehicle to be serviced under the recall, which had exceeded a reasonable amount of time. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 8/6/12 *cn updated 08/14/2012 *js
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 lotus elise. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v510000 (engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hose). The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that they had no time frame as to when the necessary parts would be available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,300.
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
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...
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located in front of right front wheel well. Car was taken to lotus dealer and oil line was reported to have burst. After fixing, was told there was sound of cylinder damage in engine. Lotus will be replacing the engine at their cost per dealer's report to me on 4/3/2012.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 lotus elise. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v510000 (engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hose). The manufacturer was made aware of the situation and the contact was awaiting a response to find out how to pursue repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 13,000. ..Updated 01/25/16 *bf updated 01/28/16.*Jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 lotus elise. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed that oil was leaking abnormally. An independent mechanic examined the vehicle and advised the contact that oil was leaking from the oil filter. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 11v510000 (engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hose). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 10,000.
Oil cooler hose separated from fitting at the sandwich plate on the engine. *Tr
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data