Lotus ELAN - 1991
199.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1991 is 263.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Lotus ELAN, model year 1991.
Sample size: 396 cars, 807 tests and 1,607 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 396 cars
The 1991 Lotus Elan has a lower overall defect rate than the average car from the same year, with approximately 199 defects per 100 MOTs compared to 263 for its peers, indicating a 24% improvement. However, it shows a notable increase in brake-related defects, with 131 defects per 100 MOTs, exceeding the average of 107. On the positive side, the Elan excels in categories such as steering, lights and electrics, and body structure, all showing significantly fewer defects than the average. Additionally, while the defect rate tends to rise with mileage, the Elan maintains a relatively stable performance across different mileage segments compared to its contemporaries.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 396 cars
More model years for Lotus ELAN
Other models from Lotus
Categories
Brakes
▼ 24.9% worse
131.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 105.2 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
Steering
▲ 50.3% better
14.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.0 / 100 tests
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 16.0% better
17.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.2 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 38.3% better
36.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.5 / 100 tests
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Beam image obviously incorrect
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 17.5% better
145.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 176.5 / 100 tests
- A wheel bearing: with excessive play
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Body/Structure
▲ 71.5% better
18.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 64.1 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
Equipment
▲ 79.9% better
3.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.4 / 100 tests
- Audible warning:
- Seat belt retractor not functioning as intended
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
- Audible warning:
Other
▲ 42.9% better
30.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.9 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 150
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 131
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 100
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 83
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 83
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 67
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 62
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 51
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 51
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 42
Serious faults (Top 10)
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 51
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 37
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 29
Service brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 29
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 21
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Braking effort: inadequate at a wheel
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 11