2002 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Lotus Elise passed 87.9% of its 2,224 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 15.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.2%) and emissions & environmental (4.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 131 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.0% once past 120-150k — 3.2× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 12.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.2% | 137 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 71 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 71 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 48 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.1% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 131 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 62 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 4 | Washers | 40 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 33 |
| 6 | Wipers | 33 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.5% | 278 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.8% | 195 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 184 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 128 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 113 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.5% | 56 |
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 | 469 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,031 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 598 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 10.8% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 451 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 463 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 455 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 431 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 424 | 13.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Elise
On a 2002 Elise, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (3.2% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2002 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 2,224 2002 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.2% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (4.1%).
Does the 2002 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,224 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.