Does the Lotus Elise fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?
The Lotus Elise records 4.97 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 26.75 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−21.78, 95% interval −22.37 to −21.20). It ranks 688 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Lotus Elise by registration
What exactly fails on suspension?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Lotus Elise is “A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated”, recorded 528 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 528 | 1.75 |
| A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage | 259 | 0.86 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 234 | 0.78 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 180 | 0.60 |
| A wheel bearing excessively rough | 113 | 0.37 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 30,192 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Lotus Elise gets a suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?
8.8% of Lotus Elise MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.3 months and 799 miles later (1,959 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,959 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Lotus Elise 1998 · Lotus Elise 1999 · Lotus Elise 2000 · Lotus Elise 2001 · Lotus Elise 2002 · Lotus Elise 2003 · Lotus Elise 2004 · Lotus Elise 2005 · Lotus Elise by postcode area · Lotus Elise body, chassis and structure failures · Lotus Elise brakes failures · Lotus Elise vehicle identification failures · Lotus Elise lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Lotus Elise noise, emissions and leaks failures · Lotus Elise road wheels failures · Lotus Elise steering failures · Lotus Elise tyres failures · Lotus Elise visibility failures