2007 Lotus Elise problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling (3) · Fuel/Propulsion System (2) · Power Train (1)
Safety recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 2013-02-05 · campaign 13V041000 · 451 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 2011-10-14 · campaign 11V510000 · 5,041 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (12)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2022-03-16 · sb_2022_01_Lotus · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
standard information required and procedures to be followed when reporting ecu & tcu faults. there is often insufficient, or inconsistent information received from dealers when reporting ecu & tcu related faults, this can lead to unacceptable delays in repairing vehicles.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2021-06-16 · sb_2021_06_DTC · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
there is often inconsistent or insufficient information received from dealers when reporting ecu and tcu related faults. this bulletin aims to standardise the information when filing a claim to after sales.
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2020-09-30 · TSB_2020_03 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
air conditioning compressors failing due to oil starvation. tsb reminds dealers of correct replacement and running-in procedures.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2020-05-19 · sb_2020_01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
any unauthorised modifications, including fitment of non-approved after-market air filter resulting in generation of diagnostic trouble codes (dtcâs) p0101 & p1109. we have had several instances where dtcâs p0101 & p1109 had been set and the car recovered into the dealer, only for them to find t
Wheels 2019-05-15 · sb_2019_06_Elise · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
compatibility of yokohama ad07 and v105 tire product ranges for the elise model range.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2016-09-02 · 2016-06 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
recommendation of revision to manual brake bleeding procedure on any elise models fitted with a brake servo unit. whilst performing a brake fluid bleeding procedure, it is possible that the brake pedal may not fully return to its released/uppermost position (when being fully actuated as part of the
Showing the 6 most recent of 12 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-07-06 · Power Train · 3 mi“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 bott…”
2012-10-31 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 89,000 mi“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 instan…”
2012-10-31 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 55,000 mi“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 t…”
2012-05-13 · Engine · 35,167 mi“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…”
2012-04-07 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 34,000 mi“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 diffi…”
2011-08-17 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 20,000 mi“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 happene…”
2011-06-06 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 29,000 mi“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…”
2010-10-26 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine · 14,500 mi“1. nothing was obvious leading you to the event. 2. failure only occurred once, but caused engine failure. 3. engine was replaced entirely. *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.