2004 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,336 MOT tests, the 2004 Lotus Elise recorded an 88.4% pass rate. That is 16.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 6.8% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 66 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.1% once past 90-120k — 2.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 15.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.8% in 2021 to 10.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 91 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 45 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.9% | 39 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.1% | 28 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 25 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.1% | 15 |
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 | 66 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 57 |
| 3 | Washers | 26 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 23 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 20 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 18 |
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 | 15.0% | 200 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.9% | 146 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.9% | 119 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.6% | 62 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.2% | 56 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 44 |
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 | 303 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 598 | 11.7% |
| 60-90k | 323 | 10.5% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 281 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 271 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 270 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 249 | 11.7% |
| 2025 | 265 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Elise
On a 2004 Elise, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (3.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (2.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2004 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 1,336 2004 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.4%).
Does the 2004 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,336 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.