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2005 Lotus Elise Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Critical

54 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.18 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical11V510000

Engine And Engine Cooling

DETACHED OIL LINE COULD SPRAY OIL ON A TIRE, raises the risk of A CRASH, OR IT COULD SPRAY OIL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy & full details

LOTUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LOTUS AT 1-800-245-6887.

LOTUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELISE AND EXIGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2006. THE OIL COOLER LINE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM ITS FITTING.

Serious05V571000

Power Train:Manual Transmission

THIS COULD RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO CHANGE GEARS, raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR LEVERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LOTUS CARS USA AT 1-800-245-6887.

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE GEAR LEVER MAY BREAK.

Complaint volume

54 this model-year 6 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

2Crashes
2Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 54 complaints. Severity Index 0.18.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Engine And Engine Cooling18 · 33%Engine And Engine Cooling…5 · 9%Engine And Engine Cooling…5 · 9%Electrical System4 · 7%Visibility3 · 6%Engine3 · 6%Power Train · Manual Tran…2 · 4%Suspension · Rear2 · 4%
  1. Engine And Engine Cooling — 18 reports
  2. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — 5 reports
  3. Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System — 5 reports
  4. Electrical System — 4 reports
  5. Visibility — 3 reports
  6. Engine — 3 reports
  7. Power Train:Manual Transmission — 2 reports
  8. Suspension:Rear — 2 reports
  9. Power Train — 2 reports
  10. Unknown Or Other — 2 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2005 · 2006 (1) · 2007 (2) · 2009 (2)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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