2009 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
510 MOT tests on the 2009 Lotus Elise are in this dataset, and 92.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 25.4% of the time, so this is 17.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.7%) and emissions & environmental (2.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 12 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.5% in the 0-30k band and 9.3% in the 60-90k band, a 4.8-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 13.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 24 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 11 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.8% | 9 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 8 |
| 6 | Brakes | 1.4% | 7 |
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 | 12 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 6 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 6 |
| 5 | Horn | 5 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 5 |
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 | 13.3% | 68 |
| 2 | Tyres | 10.6% | 54 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.2% | 11 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.0% | 10 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 6 |
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 | 133 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 329 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 43 | 9.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 108 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 110 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 101 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 96 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 95 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Elise
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Tyres (1.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2009 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 510 2009 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.2%).
Does the 2009 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 510 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.