2010 Lotus Exige — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 326 MOT tests analysed for the 2010 Lotus Exige, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (76.9%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 9 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.5% | 8 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 4 |
| 5 | Tyres | 0.9% | 3 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 13 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 5 |
| 3 | Washers | 4 |
| 4 | Wipers | 4 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
| 6 | Horn | 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 | 8.3% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 24 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.1% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 10 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 7 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.5% | 5 |
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 | 199 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 105 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 65 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 64 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 67 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 59 | 5.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Exige
Before buying a 2010 Lotus Exige, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 3.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (2.5% 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.
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 Exiges pass their MOT?
92.9% of the 326 2010 Lotus Exige MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Lotus Exige?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (2.8%).
Does the 2010 Exige get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 10.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 326 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.