Does the Lotus Esprit fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Lotus Esprit records 16.26 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 30.74 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−14.48, 95% interval −16.01 to −12.94). It ranks 674 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Lotus Esprit by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Lotus Esprit is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 196 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 196 | 3.91 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 81 | 1.61 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 77 | 1.53 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 54 | 1.08 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 49 | 0.98 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,018 (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
Other pages for this model
Lotus Esprit by postcode area · Lotus Esprit body, chassis and structure failures · Lotus Esprit brakes failures · Lotus Esprit vehicle identification failures · Lotus Esprit noise, emissions and leaks failures · Lotus Esprit steering failures · Lotus Esprit suspension failures · Lotus Esprit tyres failures · Lotus Esprit visibility failures