2011 Lotus Evora S — MOT failures & pass rate
395 MOT tests on the 2011 Lotus Evora S are in this dataset, and 89.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 23.2% of the time, so this is 12.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests against 2.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, linkage ball joints and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2011 Evora S fails 11.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.8% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 16.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.7% in 2021 to 7.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 24 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.5% | 10 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.0% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 7 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.5% | 6 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 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 | 19 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joints | 8 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 6 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | 16.7% | 66 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.0% | 63 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.4% | 61 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 16 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.0% | 16 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 6 |
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 | 86 | 11.6% |
| 30-60k | 213 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 80 | 8.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 83 | 12.0% |
| 2023 | 75 | 6.7% |
| 2024 | 83 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 79 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Evora S
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 6.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.5% 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.
- Suspension (2.0% 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 2011 Lotus Evora Ss pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 395 2011 Lotus Evora S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Lotus Evora S?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by tyres (2.5%).
Does the 2011 Evora S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.6% in the 0-30k band to 8.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 395 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.