2015 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 Lotus Elise passed 94.7% of its 526 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 16.1% of the time, so this is 10.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.4%) and visibility (1.7%) 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 switch — headlamp aim alone was recorded 15 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 9.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.2% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 18 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.7% | 9 |
| 3 | Tyres | 1.1% | 6 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 3 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 1 |
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 | 15 |
| 2 | Washers | 8 |
| 3 | Switch | 5 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 3 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 2 |
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 | 9.3% | 49 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.8% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.6% | 19 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 6 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.8% | 4 |
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 | 420 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 101 | 5.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 119 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 118 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 105 | 3.8% |
| 2024 | 91 | 1.1% |
| 2025 | 93 | 3.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Elise
On a 2015 Elise, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.7% 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 (1.1% 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 2015 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
94.7% of the 526 2015 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.4% of tests, followed by visibility (1.7%).
Does the 2015 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 5.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 526 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.