2008 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 936 MOT tests, the 2008 Lotus Elise recorded a 90.2% pass rate. That is 16.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 6.1% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.2% once past 60-90k — 2.5× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 14.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 57 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 28 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 26 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.4% | 22 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 3 | Washers | 18 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 16 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 11 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 9 |
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 | 14.6% | 137 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.9% | 83 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.1% | 76 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.8% | 17 |
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 | 334 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 414 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 165 | 15.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 191 | 10.5% |
| 2022 | 186 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 198 | 11.1% |
| 2024 | 179 | 7.3% |
| 2025 | 182 | 10.4% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Elise
On a 2008 Elise, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.8% 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 2008 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
90.2% of the 936 2008 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by brakes (3.0%).
Does the 2008 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 15.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 936 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.