2014 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 457 MOT tests, the 2014 Lotus Elise recorded a 91.9% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (18.2% fail rate), the 2014 Elise comes out 10.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.4%) and visibility (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and parking brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 12 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 15.0% versus 5.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 9.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 20 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.8% | 13 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.5% | 7 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 7 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.1% | 5 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 4 |
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 | Washers | 9 |
| 3 | Parking brake performance | 7 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 4 |
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 | 9.0% | 41 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.8% | 31 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.5% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 8 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 5 |
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 | 262 | 5.3% |
| 30-60k | 149 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 40 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 97 | 8.3% |
| 2022 | 94 | 6.4% |
| 2023 | 91 | 7.7% |
| 2024 | 89 | 11.2% |
| 2025 | 86 | 7.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Elise
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Tyres (1.5% 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 2014 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 457 2014 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by visibility (2.8%).
Does the 2014 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 457 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.