2005 Lotus Elise Problems

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.

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

I OWN A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING A RAIN STORM THE FRONT DEFROSTER WOULD NOT OPERATE, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED MY VISIBILITY AS A CONSEQUENCE, AS I WAS GETTING READY TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND SIT, I RAN INTO FLOOD WATER AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE PROPERLY. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REASON THIS HAPPENED WAS THE FAN MOTOR PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST ME 1900 DOLLARS. LOTUS PUT OUT A BULLETIN THAT HOLES NEEDED TO BE DRILLED IN THE CHASSIS TO PREVENT THIS, ALTHOUGH THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THIS DONE BUT DID NOT HELP THE SITUATION. WITH THEM KNOWING THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE!! MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 10,500 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

MY 2005 LOTUS ELISE HAS A INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE A/C FAN NOT WORKING. THIS SI A DESIGN FLAW IN THE RESISTOR BEING PLACED WERE IT IS PRONE TO WATER INTRUSION. *TR

WIRING ON AUTO HAS BEEN A MESS SINCE NEW, AUTO TOWED 15 TIMES FOR MECHANICAL REASONS AND ADDITION TIMES TOW TRUCK WAS COMING AND CAR WOULD START. SHIFTER BROKE OFF AT 2,000 MILES, TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES ALARM SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR,SPEAKERS,TURN INDICATORS, FRONT STEERING BOX (RACK), VEHICLE COMPUTER (SPEED INDICATED ON DASH HAS BEEN AT LEST 15% HIGH SINCE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED)-- HAVE ALL FAILED. LOTUS DEALERSHIPS WHERE NEVER ABLE TO LOCATE OR FIX WIRING PROBLEM (FOX VALLEY, AURORA IL ANOTHER LAKE FOREST HAS NO AUTHORIZED LOTUS MECHANIC.) LOTUS USA INC. COVERED MOST UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRED ,NOW WILL NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS OR E-MAILS (OVER 15 SENT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.). AUTO NOW HAS 26,666 MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AUGUST OF 2010. IT WILL NOT PAST WISCONSIN EMISSIONS SO I AM UNABLE TO GET LICENSE PLATES ALSO IT WILL CHANGE LANES OFF A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT WARNING. AUTO WAS NEVER ON A TRACK AND ALWAYS STORED IN A HEAT AND RODENT CONTROLLED AREA. A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON AUTO STATED "THE WIRING HARNESS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PULLED AND INSTALLED THROUGH OUT THE AUTO WITH OUT REGARD TO SHARP EDGES OR CARE IN ANYWAY", HE FOUND NO RODENT DAMAGE.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS INTERMITTENT AND TURNS ALL ON OR ALL OFF WITHOUT WARNING, MASKING SPEED, FUEL, RPMS, MILEAGE, ETC. (ALL DATA). FROM RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON WWW.ELISETALK.COM, IT APPEARS THIS IS A PROBLEM COMMON TO 2005 LOTUS ELISE AUTOMOBILES. SEVERE POSSIBILITY OF INCIDENT BY NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOUR GOING OR HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE, AND, THIS PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT WITHOUT WARNING OR APPARENT CAUSE. *TR

WIRING ON AUTO HAS BEEN A MESS SINCE NEW, AUTO TOWED 15 TIMES FOR MECHANICAL REASONS AND ADDITION TIMES TOW TRUCK WAS COMING AND CAR WOULD START. SHIFTER BROKE OFF AT 2,000 MILES, TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES ALARM SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR,SPEAKERS,TURN INDICATORS, FRONT STEERING BOX (RACK), VEHICLE COMPUTER (SPEED INDICATED ON DASH HAS BEEN AT LEST 15% HIGH SINCE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED)-- HAVE ALL FAILED. LOTUS DEALERSHIPS WHERE NEVER ABLE TO LOCATE OR FIX WIRING PROBLEM (FOX VALLEY, AURORA IL ANOTHER LAKE FOREST HAS NO AUTHORIZED LOTUS MECHANIC.) LOTUS USA INC. COVERED MOST UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRED ,NOW WILL NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS OR E-MAILS (OVER 15 SENT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.). AUTO NOW HAS 26,666 MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AUGUST OF 2010. IT WILL NOT PAST WISCONSIN EMISSIONS SO I AM UNABLE TO GET LICENSE PLATES ALSO IT WILL CHANGE LANES OFF A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT WARNING. AUTO WAS NEVER ON A TRACK AND ALWAYS STORED IN A HEAT AND RODENT CONTROLLED AREA. A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON AUTO STATED "THE WIRING HARNESS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PULLED AND INSTALLED THROUGH OUT THE AUTO WITH OUT REGARD TO SHARP EDGES OR CARE IN ANYWAY", HE FOUND NO RODENT DAMAGE.

FAILURE: BROKEN TOE LINK BOLT. EVENT'S LEADING TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL DRIVING OF THE CAR ON PUBLIC STREETS. CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE: REAR WHEEL WILL MOVE FREELY CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FROM MINOR INJURIES TO BOTH THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS AND INNOCENT DRIVERS AROUND THE CAR TO SEVERE PENALTIES SUCH AS DEATH(S). WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: PROPER REMOVAL AND CLEANING OF GALVANIZED CLUMPS (MANUFACTURE DEFECT) WHERE THE TOE LINK BOLTS TO THE CHASSIS. MOREOVER, REPLACEMENT OF THE TOE-LINK JOINT, NUTS AND BOLTS, AND ENSURE THEY ARE PROPERLY TORQUED TO MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATION. *TR

1) AT FIRST 1ST TO 2ND UP SHIFT AND 3RD TO 2ND DOWN SHIFT WAS GRINDING AT ABOUT 5000 RPM. SHIFTING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 2ND. NOW 3RD TO 2ND DOWN SHIFTING GRINDS AT EVERY RPM AND 1ST TO 2ND SHIFT IS VERY DIFFICULT. DIAGNOSED BY MECHNANIC AS SYNHRO FAILURE. 2) 2ND GEAR SYNCHRO FAILURE. CAN'T UPSHIFT WELL AND DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND GRINDS GEAR AND DESTROYS GEAR. UNSAFE WHEN YOU CAN'T GET INTO GEAR. 3) LOTUS USA AND THE DEALERSHIP AUTOSTRADA USA HAVE DENIED WARRANTY CLAIM. THEY WON'T FIX THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *JB

MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPPED UNEXPECTEDLY OUT OF 5TH GEAR DURING HARD DRIVING CAUSING DRIVER TO SELECT WRONG GEAR IN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE PLACING OF THE TRANSMISSION INTO 3RD GEAR BY MISTAKE LED TO CATASTROPHIC OVER-REVVING OF THE ENGINE WITH ENGINE FAILURE (TOTAL LOSS). DEALER HAD BEEN ADVISED REGARDING THE POPPING OUT OF GEAR PRIOR TO THE FATAL EVENT AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACE AND IN SPITE OF DEALER ASSESSMENT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM NOW HAS WORSENED TO GRINDING OF THE GEARS ON SIMPLE DRIVING. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST HAS ADVISED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ADVISED, BUT REPORTS TO ME THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEIR ENGINEERS CANNOT CONCEIVABLE THINK OF A WAY THE GEARBOX /TRANSMISSION CAN "POP" OUT OF GEAR IF PROPERLY PLACED INTO THE GEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY TWO OTHER INDEPENDENT DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OCCUR WITH THEIR USE OF THE VEHICLE. I AS THE OWNER HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAS REPORTED NO INTEREST IN SEEING THE DEFECTIVE PART, NOR ANY WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN FIXING THE ISSUE. ISSUES REMAIN: MANUFACTURER UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE THE COMPLAINT AS WELL AS RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROBLEM COULD EXIST. SAFETY CONCERN REMAINS FOR THOSE NOT EXPECTING THE SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR AS IN MY CASE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. *JB

WIRING ON AUTO HAS BEEN A MESS SINCE NEW, AUTO TOWED 15 TIMES FOR MECHANICAL REASONS AND ADDITION TIMES TOW TRUCK WAS COMING AND CAR WOULD START. SHIFTER BROKE OFF AT 2,000 MILES, TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES ALARM SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR,SPEAKERS,TURN INDICATORS, FRONT STEERING BOX (RACK), VEHICLE COMPUTER (SPEED INDICATED ON DASH HAS BEEN AT LEST 15% HIGH SINCE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED)-- HAVE ALL FAILED. LOTUS DEALERSHIPS WHERE NEVER ABLE TO LOCATE OR FIX WIRING PROBLEM (FOX VALLEY, AURORA IL ANOTHER LAKE FOREST HAS NO AUTHORIZED LOTUS MECHANIC.) LOTUS USA INC. COVERED MOST UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRED ,NOW WILL NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS OR E-MAILS (OVER 15 SENT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.). AUTO NOW HAS 26,666 MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE AUGUST OF 2010. IT WILL NOT PAST WISCONSIN EMISSIONS SO I AM UNABLE TO GET LICENSE PLATES ALSO IT WILL CHANGE LANES OFF A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT WARNING. AUTO WAS NEVER ON A TRACK AND ALWAYS STORED IN A HEAT AND RODENT CONTROLLED AREA. A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON AUTO STATED "THE WIRING HARNESS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PULLED AND INSTALLED THROUGH OUT THE AUTO WITH OUT REGARD TO SHARP EDGES OR CARE IN ANYWAY", HE FOUND NO RODENT DAMAGE.

DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THROUGH CITY TRAFFIC WHEN THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL. SHOWED IT WAS EMPTY WITH OIL SPILLING ON THE GROUND. TOWED IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO DISCOVER THAT THE OIL HOSE FITTING HAD BROKEN OFF THE ENGINE CAUSING THE OIL LOSS. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE FUNCTION HAD I NOT PULLED OVER. I HAD THE OIL HOSE REPLACED AND REPLACED THE REMAINING HOSES AS WELL.

OEM OIL COOLING LINE CRIMP LET GO THAT IS IN FRONT WHEEL WELL TO OIL COOLER. ENGINE OIL POURED ALL OVER FRONT TIRE AND BRAKES. EVEN AT 15 MPH I LOST CONTROL. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR

ON AUGUST 11, 2010 I TOOK MY 2005 LOTUS ELISE WITH 9105 MILES ON IT TO GET THE INSPECTION DONE. THE MAN DOING THE INSPECTION WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR. THE CAR WOULDN'T UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB OR THE CENTER CONSOLE RELEASE BUTTON. TRIED BOTH WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND OFF. NEITHER WORKED. THE CAR WINDOW WAS DOWN, BUT THE WINDOW IS TOO SMALL TO GET OUT THROUGH. FINALLY, AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP, THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL THE PLUNGER UP ON THE DOOR AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT. I THEN DROVE THE CAR HOME, GOT OUT AND CLOSED THE DOOR. WALKED AROUND TO PASSENGER'S SIDE TO GET BELONGINGS OUT, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T LET ME IN. IT LOCKED AGAIN. WINDOWS WERE UP SO I WAS UNABLE TO USE PLUNGER. ONCE AGAIN, THE KEYFOB WAS WORTHLESS. HAD TO CALL SEVERAL LOCKSMITHS BEFORE FINDING ONE THAT WOULD UNLOCK A LOTUS. HEAT INDEX WAS OVER 100 DEGREES. COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY TO CHILD OR PET!! LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF A RECALL/BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED BUT FOUND NOTHING. I DID FIND A LOTUS FORUM WHERE PEOPLE WERE DISCUSSING THIS SAME ISSUE. MOST WERE RESOLVED BY REPLACING THE CDL (CENTRE DOOR LOCKING MODULE--PART #A116M6048F). I TRIED CALLING LOTUS USA TO DISCUSS THIS, BUT MY CALL WAS NEVER RETURNED. SINCE WE LIVE 3+ HOURS FROM THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, I ORDERED A CDL. MY HUSBAND INSTALLED IT, AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. BEFORE THIS, I HAD NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE LOCKS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD CDL. *TR

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.