2004 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,336 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Lotus Elise, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility. Its pass rate of 88.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.1% in the 90-120k group versus 8.9% in the 0-30k group.
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
Before buying a 2004 Lotus Elise, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.8% of tests for this year.
- 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 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.