2019 Lotus Elise — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Lotus Elise passed 96.3% of its 405 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (10.1% fail rate), the 2019 Elise comes out 6.3pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (1.7%) and visibility (1.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, wipers and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 8 times.
The trend is worsening — 0.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 4.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 7 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.5% | 6 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 4 |
| 4 | Tyres | 0.7% | 3 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 1 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 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 | 8 |
| 2 | Wipers | 4 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | Tyres | 4.4% | 18 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.2% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 5 |
| 4 | Other defects | 1.0% | 4 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 3 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 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 | 398 | 3.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 97 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 106 | 3.8% |
| 2024 | 95 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 97 | 4.1% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Elise
On a 2019 Elise, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 1.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.0% 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 2019 Lotus Elises pass their MOT?
96.3% of the 405 2019 Lotus Elise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Lotus Elise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 1.7% of tests, followed by visibility (1.5%).
Methodology & source. Based on 405 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.