2013 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 258 MOT tests, the 2013 Lotus Elise recorded a 92.3% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (20.1% fail rate), the 2013 Elise comes out 12.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.1%) and brakes (2.7%) 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 registration plates — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 8 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 5.9% in 2021 to 4.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 8 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.7% | 7 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 7 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.6% | 4 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 4 |
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 | 8 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 3 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 5 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 3 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.1% | 26 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.8% | 15 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 5 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 3 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.4% | 1 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 1 |
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 | 151 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 83 | 9.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 52 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 54 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 51 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 50 | 4.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Elise
On a 2013 Elise, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.7% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2013 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 258 2013 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by brakes (2.7%).
Does the 2013 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 9.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 258 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.