Lotus ELISE - 1999
88.8 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1999 is 349.1 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Lotus ELISE, model year 1999.
Sample size: 729 cars, 1,370 tests and 1,216 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: 729 cars
The 1999 Lotus Elise shows a significantly lower overall defect rate than the average car of the same year, with only 89 defects per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 345. It excels particularly in categories such as Brakes, Steering, and Body/Structure, exhibiting much fewer issues than the average vehicle. Notably, the Elise has outstanding performance in visibility and lights and electrics, where it demonstrates considerably lower defect rates. While tyre wear is an issue, it is less prominent compared to the model's strengths in essential safety and structural areas. Overall, the Elise stands out as a reliable vehicle with significantly fewer defects than its peers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 729 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 75.7% better
37.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 153.4 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 60.6% better
10.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.9 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 62.0% better
10.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.6 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 68.2% better
23.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 73.0 / 100 tests
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 73.4% better
71.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 266.9 / 100 tests
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 96.2% better
2.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 76.5 / 100 tests
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 92.2% better
1.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- Audible warning:
- Audible warning:
Other
▲ 62.3% better
21.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 56.5 / 100 tests
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 83
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 83
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 78
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 62
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 58
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 49
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 46
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 45
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
Serious faults (Top 10)
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 37
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 20
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
4.3.1 (a) (iii)
FAIL
Occurrences: 9