Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| 1997 | 0 | 4 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Electrical system1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
61 Esprit cars are on the New Zealand register; 75% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 | 10 | 2 | 6 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1989 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1986 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1978 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1977 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
763 Esprit cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 | 7 |
| 2002 | 2 | 13 |
| 2001 | 7 | 12 |
| 2000 | 13 | 14 |
| 1999 | 27 | 37 |
| 1998 | 54 | 52 |
| 1997 | 25 | 40 |
| 1996 | 20 | 64 |
| 1995 | 26 | 42 |
| 1994 | 20 | 30 |
| 1993 | 9 | 27 |
| 1992 | 7 | 20 |
| 1991 | 13 | 33 |
| 1990 | 19 | 75 |
| 1989 | 39 | 131 |
| 1988 | 39 | 137 |
| 1987 | 35 | 77 |
| 1986 | 31 | 67 |
| 1985 | 28 | 80 |
| 1984 | 75 | 58 |
| 1983 | 35 | 27 |
| 1982 | 56 | 65 |
| 1981 | 35 | 39 |
| 1980 | 23 | 25 |
| 1979 | 41 | 38 |
| 1978 | 40 | 31 |
| 1977 | 26 | 19 |
| 1976 | 15 | 5 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
1 new Lotus Esprit cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2021 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
4 campaigns cover the Esprit.
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO, 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." CERTAIN AIR BAG WARNING LABELS ARE REQUIRED ON BOTH SUN VISORS AND THE ABOVE VEHICLES FAILED TO HAVE THE REQUIRED LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED FOR HARDNESS. THE REAR WHEELS COULD CRACK AND BREAK.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED FOR HARDNESS. THE REAR WHEELS COULD CRACK AND BREAK.
AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT SYSTEM WARNING LABELS ARE MISSING FROM THE SUN VISOR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
NHTSA recalls