Lotus Eclat MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 13 model years and 1,002 tests, the Lotus Eclat passes its MOT 84.8% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 20.6% of the time, so this is 5.5pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.2%) and brakes (5.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, non catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Eclat fails 17.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 18.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 17.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Eclat model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 45 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Brakes |
| 1984 | 90 | 86.7% | 13.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 110 | 87.3% | 12.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 132 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 158 | 85.4% | 14.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 125 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 104 | 86.5% | 13.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 112 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1991 | 51 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Visibility |
| 1992 | 35 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 82 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 57 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 33 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.2% | 32 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.9% | 29 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 28 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.8% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 41 |
| 2 | Non catalyst emissions | 36 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 23 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 23 |
| 6 | Washers | 21 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 21 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 20 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.5% | 175 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 16.0% | 160 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.5% | 155 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 84 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.6% | 76 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.5% | 65 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 229 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 283 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 377 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 18.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 218 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 218 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 201 | 14.4% |
| 2024 | 186 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 179 | 19.6% |
What to check before buying a Lotus Eclat
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (4.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lotus Eclat?
84.8% of the 1,002 Lotus Eclat MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 15.2% fail rate, across model years 1980–1992.
What does the Lotus Eclat most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, then brakes (5.7%).
How much does mileage affect Eclat MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 18.8% for 90-120k, a 1.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,002 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.