2010 Lotus Evora S — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Lotus Evora S passed 90.3% of its 527 recorded MOT tests. That is 14.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.4%) and brakes (2.3%) 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 service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 18 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2010 Evora S fails 8.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 13.5% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 23 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.3% | 12 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.5% | 8 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.3% | 7 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 7 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 5 |
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 | 18 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 6 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 6 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 5 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 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 | 13.5% | 71 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.4% | 60 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 52 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 18 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.5% | 13 |
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 | 100 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 285 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 108 | 11.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 11.6% |
| 2022 | 102 | 6.9% |
| 2023 | 110 | 10.0% |
| 2024 | 99 | 8.1% |
| 2025 | 104 | 11.5% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Evora S
On a 2010 Evora S, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Brakes (2.3% 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.
- Suspension (1.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2010 Lotus Evora Ss pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 527 2010 Lotus Evora S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Lotus Evora S?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by brakes (2.3%).
Does the 2010 Evora S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 527 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.