2005 Lotus Elise engine problems

The 2005 Lotus Elise has 33 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 61% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

Engine complaints

61%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Elise engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

11V510000EngineOctober 14, 2011 · 5,041 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

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.

What owners report

“2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE OIL LINE RELEASED FROM ITS FITTING ON THE FRONT RIGHT OIL COOLER WETTING THE TIRE WITH OIL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CAR SPUN AND LEFT THE ROAD. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE MEDIAN AND THE LINE WAS REPAIRED. I SELECTED THE YES RESPONSE TO WAS…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 5, 2011 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2005 Lotus Elise have?

NHTSA has 33 complaints about the 2005 Lotus Elise engine — 61% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2005 Lotus Elise engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 11V510000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.