RoadVitals

Lotus Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

NHTSA safety recalls, owner-reported complaints and investigations, by model and model year · 1969–2025

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received. This total counts a complaint once for each Lotus model year it names.
116
Safety recallsDistinct NHTSA recall campaigns covering at least one Lotus model year. One campaign can cover several models and many model years; it is counted once here.
21
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Models coveredModels with at least one model year that has enough NHTSA data to publish.
11
32 model years

Overview

Our database holds 116 NHTSA owner-reported complaints filed against Lotus vehicles. Our database also holds 21 safety recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation covering at least one Lotus model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Lotus models

Ordered by total owner-reported complaint volume, which is not a ranking of quality

Lotus models with published safety data
ModelModel yearsComplaintsRecalls
Elise2005–2011726
Evora2010–2020156
Elan1969–1992142
Exige S2007–200881
Esprit1978–200336
Emira2024–202510
Exige2005–201114
Eclat1975–197601
Elite1975–197902
Europa196901
Evora GT202100

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Complaint totals count a report once for each model year it names; recall totals count a campaign once per model.

Recently issued recalls

The 8 newest campaigns covering a Lotus vehicle in our database

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
19V263000Evora

STRUCTURELotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Evora vehicles. The toe board in the passenger footwell lacks stiffness, allowing the knee of an unbelted occupant to contact the rigid structure of the vehicle, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

18V781000Evora

STEERINGLotus Cars Limited (Lotus) is recalling certain 2018 Lotus Evora vehicles. Due to an assembly error, in the event of a frontal collision, the steering column may not properly collapse to absorb some of the impact energy.

14V2800003 Lotus models

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINELotus 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 fitting.

13V314000Evora

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGSLotus Cars USA, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2011 Evora supercharged vehicles equipped with a manual transmission and manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The engine oil cooler hose may chafe and rupture resulting in oil loss.

13V216000Evora

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSLotus Cars is recalling certain model year 2013 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2012 through November 2012. These vehicles have been granted a temporary exemption from the requirement to conform to the latest passenger side advanced air bag requirements covered by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," but the affected vehicles do not a contain temporary exemption label in accordance with 49 CFR 555.9. Additionally, the affected vehicles have the incorrect date of manufacture on the Federal Certification Label.

13V041000Elise, Exige

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGSLotus 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.

12V477000Evora

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGLotus is recalling certain model year 2011 Evora supercharged vehicles manufactured from February 2011 through September 2011, equipped with a three-piece oil feed pipe with a flexible hose section. This engine mounted oil feed pipe, used to supply oil to the engine cylinder head, can rupture.

11V541000Elise

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNITLOTUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 ELISE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE VEHICLES WERE FITTED WITH TURN SIGNAL MODULES WHICH WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE REVISED FRONT HEADLIGHT CONFIGURATION WHICH INCLUDES THE INTEGRAL FRONT LED TURN SIGNAL UNITS. THE INCOMPATIBLE MODULE MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS CAUSE ALL THE LED TURN SIGNAL LAMPS TO FLASH AT AN ERRATIC FREQUENCY WHEN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH IS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, IN THE EVENT THAT EITHER A FRONT OR REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP FAILS TO ILLUMINATE OR DOES NOT FLASH AT THE CORRECT FREQUENCY WHEN OPERATED, THE REMAINING FUNCTIONING SIGNAL LAMPS ON THAT VEHICLES SIDE AS WELL AS THE INSTRUMENT TURN TELL TALE LAMP WILL NOT FLASH AT AN INCREASED RATE AS INTENDED.

Browse by model year

Every year with at least one publishable Lotus model year

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .