Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2009 Lotus Elise, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the United Kingdom
69 cars built in 2009 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 56 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 102 of these cars first registered in 2009 took their annual MOT test. 90% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2009 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Brakes | 2.9% | 10.1% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.9% | 18.7% |
| Tyres | 2.9% | 7.5% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Suspension | 1.0% | 16.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
5 2009 cars are on the New Zealand register; 80% arrived as used imports, 20% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2009 Lotus Elise.
| 2014191 27 May 2014 | Engine On certain vehicles, the engine oil cooler lines could fail, causing an oil leak. Oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, which could result in a fi… |
| 2009151 27 May 2009 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the bolts securing the rear hubs to the suspension may not have been adequately tightened during vehicle assembly. An insecure wheel hub m… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its fitting.
LOTUS IS RECALLING 87 MODEL YEAR 2009 ELISE AND EXIGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 20, 2008 THROUGH MAY 5, 2009. THE REAR HUB FLANGE BOLTS ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE UNDER-TORQUED AND MAY BECOME LOOSE. IF THAT OCCURS, AN INSECURE HUB COULD LEAD TO DEGRADATION IN VEHICLE HANDLING, AND A RUBBING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Lotus told its dealers about the 2009 Lotus Elise: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10209516 | Standard information required and procedures to be followed when reporting ECU & TCU faults. There is often insufficient, or inconsistent information received from dealers when reporting ECU & TCU related faults, this can lead to unacceptable delays in repairing vehicles. |
| 10198785 | There is often inconsistent or insufficient information received from dealers when reporting ECU and TCU related faults. This bulletin aims to standardise the information when filing a claim to After Sales. |
| 10180671 | Air conditioning compressors failing due to oil starvation. TSB reminds dealers of correct replacement and running-in procedures. |
| 10175849 | Any unauthorised modifications, including fitment of non-approved after-market air filter resulting in generation of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0101 & P1109. We have had several instances where DTCs P0101 & P1109 had been set and the car recovered into the dealer, only for them to find that the original equipment engine air intake filter had been substituted for a non-approved after-market type (applicable to both dry and oil coated types). |
| 10160754 | Compatibility of Yokohama AD07 and V105 tire product ranges for the Elise model range. |
| 10143132 | Recommendation of revision to manual brake bleeding procedure on any Elise models fitted with a brake servo unit. Whilst performing a brake fluid bleeding procedure, it is possible that the brake pedal may not fully return to its released/uppermost position (when being fully actuated as part of the manual bleeding routine) due to vacuum stored within the brake servo unit. |
| 10143130 | Retrofitment of the latest level CDL (Central Door Locking) actuator to earlier models if required. Due to parts obsolescence the CDL actuator assembly, part number B116M6039F is no longer available. This actuator was fitted into each door of any Toyota powertrain Elise and 4/6 cylinder Exiges from start of production up to '15MY VIN F_ _11652 equipped with central locking. |
| 10143127 | Clarification of air conditioning compressor ?Running-In? Procedure. Insufficient lubrication will result in compressor failure due to seizure, reducing air conditioning performance and also generate diagnostic trouble codes. |
| 10143126 | To reinforce the importance of checking and clearing stored fault codes at time of PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection). The increased frequency of battery disconnection/reconnection that vehicles are subjected to during transportation from the factory to the dealer or in some instances the prolonged storage, vehicle inactivity and resultant battery discharge may result in DTC?s (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) being generated by the vehicles ECU (Electronic Control Unit). |
| 10143124 | Retrofitment of the latest level windscreen washer bottle/pump assembly to earlier models if required. Due to parts obsolescence the windscreen washer bottle/pump assembly fitted to all Toyota power train Elise and 4-cylinder Exige from start of production (part number A116M0039F) is no longer available. |
| 10143123 | To confirm the compatibility of service level instrument packs available for all Federal Elise and Exige variants from ?08MY to present date by model year and powertrain as well as a special care point to be taken whilst fitting an Aftersales replacement instrument pack. |
| 10143122 | Brake hose/pipe inspection. The routing of all brake hoses and pipes is set during production to ensure that they cannot come into contact with any other ancillary components regardless of the vehicles suspension travel range or steering movement. |
| 10054070 | LOTUS: INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR CLARIFICATION OF INSTRUMENT PACK (IP) COMPATIBILITY, FOR SOME VEHICLES, BY PART NUMBERS, PRESENT DATE BY MODEL YEAR AND POWERTRAIN, SO INSTRUMENT DISPLAY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF REPLACEMENT UNIT CAN BE ADAPTED. MODEL 2008-2011 ELISE, EXIGE. *PE |
| 10054031 | LOTUS: INFORMATION PROVIDED REGARDING THE INSPECTION OF ALL BRAKE PIPE/HOSE, ON SOME VEHICLES, BASED ON SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND THE POSITIONING OF PIPE/HOSE. MODELS ELISE, EXIGE, EVORA, EUROPA. NO YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10039724 | LOTUS CARS: THE PROCEDURE TO RETROFIT AN OIL COOLER TRANSFER HOSE IN MODELS ELISE/EXIGE. *RM |
| 10028869 | LOTUS: A SMALL RANGE OF PLATFORM MODELS CONSIDERED TO BE AT RISK FROM INSECURE REAR HUB BOLTS. REQUEST A FURTHER RANGE OF CARS WHICH ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE AT RISK, ARE ALSO CHECKED AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)