2016 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Lotus Elise passed 93.7% of its 493 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.2 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 14.5%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.3%) and visibility (1.6%) 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 washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 13 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 9.7% 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 | 3.3% | 16 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.6% | 8 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.6% | 8 |
| 4 | Tyres | 0.8% | 4 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.8% | 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 | 13 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 3 | Washers | 6 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 4 |
| 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 | 9.7% | 48 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.1% | 45 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.9% | 19 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.6% | 8 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 3 |
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 | 402 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 82 | 9.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 105 | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 98 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 96 | 3.1% |
| 2024 | 96 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 98 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Elise
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 3.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (3.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.6% 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.
- Brakes (1.6% 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.
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 2016 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
93.7% of the 493 2016 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by visibility (1.6%).
Does the 2016 Elise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 9.8% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 493 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.