Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,224,858 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 139,140 crashes, 56,440 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,224,858 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 146 complaints for LOTUS
Incident date: Sep 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal scraping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact became aware that the power steering cooler and hoses were hanging down underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the v... Read more
Incident date: Sep 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2025 Buick Envista. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the speedometer gauge went blank. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shut off. The speedometer started flashing, and the MPH changed. The contact stated that 71 MPH was displayed on the speedometer and continued to flash and increase. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
I have had to get 3 new keys made for this car due to the security light coming on, sometimes it will not crank or start, so I have replaced the starter twice, have replaced relays and fuses, and the security light will come on while drive down the road and all gauges drop to zero, even the gas light says empty and every light on the dash comes on. But the car will still drive. But once you turn i... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. Additionally, the contact heard a loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that an unknown warning light illuminated but disappeared shortly afterward. The contact drifted the vehicle to a nearby independent mech... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport. The contact stated that while the transmission was shifted to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond immediately. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The following messages were displayed: "Gear Box Fault", "Forward Collision Fault", "Hill Descent Fault", and several other un... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
The steering wheel sticks at times so I cannot steer the car safely. I brought the car to the dealer and they said it is fine and there is nothing wrong with it. I have read on line many other people with the same problem. They had their steering components replaced and it fixed the problem. The problem is still occurring daily.
Incident date: May 7, 2023
Water intrusion into racetrack tail light. This has apparently been an issue for ten years on this style of light on Durangos with no recall or fix offered. There are hundreds of YouTube videos on how to drain water by removing a bolt, applying silicone caulk or other random fixes. Now my rear tail light is so dim it's nearly undetectable and the dealership wants to charge $1600 to fix it. But I r... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2022
Component that failed: rear upper suspension control arm developed a crack where it connects with the rear wheel knuckle. Other Lotus Evoras have reported this failure, across several model years. Component has not been inspected by others. No warning lamps. Suspension started making a clunking noise.
Incident date: Feb 18, 2022
The rear upper control arm or wishbone developed a crack. The spherical joint in the wishbone started to slide forward and back under braking and acceleration. In my case, it was caught quickly and before there was an accident. However, this wishbone is one leg of a tripod that attaches the wheel to the car. If the crack were to develop into a break, it could cause a catastrophic failure leading t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2022
Rear upper control arm cracked. Very critical safety part. I have had a discussion with other owners and have discovered that several others have had the same issue. Very low milage. 10k miles. Could result in a fatal collision! Found issue during safety inspection. Bushing is now misaligned and control arm is not in the proper location due to the crack. Another crack could result in... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2015
THE 2007+ LOTUS ELISE/ EXIGE ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH A SHIFTER THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD A BROKEN SHIFTER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STUCK AT THE 3RD GEAR AND ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. MANY HAVE ALSO REPORTED THE SAME SITUATION. IT'S BELIEVED TO BE TRUE THAT THE BALL JOINT STRUCTURE AT THE PIVOT POINT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SHIFTER IS THE MAIN REASON TO THIS FAILU... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2018
IPS WIRING HARNESS ISSUE - VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD RANDOMLY LOSE COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. VEHICLE STUCK IN THIS LIMP MODE ARE UNABLE TO GO BACK INTO GEAR AND IS LOCKED OUT FROM DRIVING, THUS REQUIRE THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. THIS CREATES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT IN AN EVENT IF AN INDIVIDUAL WAS TO MERGE INTO A LANE AND LOSES COMPLETE POWER AS A RESUL... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2018
IPS WIRING HARNESS ISSUE - VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD RANDOMLY LOSE COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. VEHICLE STUCK IN THIS LIMP MODE ARE UNABLE TO GO BACK INTO GEAR AND IS LOCKED OUT FROM DRIVING, THUS REQUIRE THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. THIS CREATES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT IN AN EVENT IF AN INDIVIDUAL WAS TO MERGE INTO A LANE AND LOSES COMPLETE POWER AS A RESUL... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2018
IPS WIRING HARNESS ISSUE - VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD RANDOMLY LOSE COMPLETE POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. VEHICLE STUCK IN THIS LIMP MODE ARE UNABLE TO GO BACK INTO GEAR AND IS LOCKED OUT FROM DRIVING, THUS REQUIRE THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. THIS CREATES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT IN AN EVENT IF AN INDIVIDUAL WAS TO MERGE INTO A LANE AND LOSES COMPLETE POWER AS A RESUL... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2015
ON NOVEMBER 15, 2015 MY 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S EXPERIENCED OIL COOLER LINE FAILURE. I WAS TAKING TURN 8 AT THUNDERHILL RACEWAY AT 95 MPH WHEN THE OIL COOLER TRANSFER HOSE AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR DETACHED AND DUMPED OIL ONTO MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRES AND ALL ALONG THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THIS CREATED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT AND I COULD EASILY HAVE CRASHED AS A RESULT - THE FACT THAT I WAS ON A RA... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2015
ON NOVEMBER 15, 2015 MY 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S EXPERIENCED OIL COOLER LINE FAILURE. I WAS TAKING TURN 8 AT THUNDERHILL RACEWAY AT 95 MPH WHEN THE OIL COOLER TRANSFER HOSE AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR DETACHED AND DUMPED OIL ONTO MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRES AND ALL ALONG THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THIS CREATED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT AND I COULD EASILY HAVE CRASHED AS A RESULT - THE FACT THAT I WAS ON A RA... Read more
Incident date: Jul 19, 2015
RADIATOR COOLING FINS ARE METAL, BUT EACH SIDE HAS A RECTANGULAR PLASTIC TUBING THAT ALLOWS WATER TO FLOW UP AND DOWN EACH SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. AT 16,200 MILES, THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE RADIATOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED, RESULTING IN A 6 INCH CRACK IN THE PLASTIC PORTION, SPRAYING RADIATOR FLUID ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD, UNEXPECTEDLY. (I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE CRACK, IF THAT W... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2015
WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 35MPH, THE CAR (LOTUS EVORA) BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND SHUT OFF. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR IN TRAFFIC.
Incident date: Jul 4, 2015
DECELERATING TO A STOP, SHIFTING DOWN IN GEARS, SHIFT INTO FIRST AND BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND NOTICE RPM'S DROP TO ZERO AND ENGINE STALLS. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS, CAR IS BRAND NEW.
Incident date: Jul 4, 2015
DECELERATING TO A STOP, SHIFTING DOWN IN GEARS, SHIFT INTO FIRST AND BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND NOTICE RPM'S DROP TO ZERO AND ENGINE STALLS. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN TWO WEEKS, CAR IS BRAND NEW.
Incident date: Jul 31, 2014
ENGINE CUTS OUT WHEN DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND COMING TO A STOP. *TR
Incident date: Apr 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER LINE FRACTURED CAUSING A LEAK AND AS A RESULT, THE OIL COOLER AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACT... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER LINE FRACTURED CAUSING A LEAK AND AS A RESULT, THE OIL COOLER AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACT... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 11, 2013
I HAVE AN INQUIRE IN REGARD TO MY 2006 LOTUS ELISE (VIN [XXX]) OIL LINE ISSUE THAT HAPPENED ON 12/11/13. I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALL THE SUDDEN. I PULLED OVER SHORTLY AFTER. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK, I ALREADY CAN SEE THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE OIL LINE WAS DIS-ATTACHED... Read more
Incident date: Nov 18, 2013
NHTSA RECALL #11V-510. ON 11/11/13 I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 11/18/13 TO HAVE THE REFERENCED RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON MY 2005 LOTUS ELISE AT STAR MOTOR CARS IN HOUSTON, TX. ON 11/18/13 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO STAR MOTOR CARS TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE. TODAY IS 11/26 AND THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AND STAR MOTOR CARS CANNOT TELL ME A DATE THAT IT WILL BE COMPLETED. STAR MOTOR CARS HAS FAILED T... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2013
I WAS COMING TO A STOP, APPLYING THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES BECAME ROCK HARD I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO SLOW THE CAR STEERING LOCKED AND I REAR ENDED THE CAR I FRONT OF ME AT 2-3 MPH. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONDITION OCCURRED AGAIN AT NEARLY A COMPLETE STO... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 15, 2013
I WAS COMING TO A STOP, APPLYING THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES BECAME ROCK HARD I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO SLOW THE CAR STEERING LOCKED AND I REAR ENDED THE CAR I FRONT OF ME AT 2-3 MPH. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONDITION OCCURRED AGAIN AT NEARLY A COMPLETE STO... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 15, 2013
I WAS COMING TO A STOP, APPLYING THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES BECAME ROCK HARD I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO SLOW THE CAR STEERING LOCKED AND I REAR ENDED THE CAR I FRONT OF ME AT 2-3 MPH. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONDITION OCCURRED AGAIN AT NEARLY A COMPLETE STO... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 15, 2013
I WAS COMING TO A STOP, APPLYING THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES BECAME ROCK HARD I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO SLOW THE CAR STEERING LOCKED AND I REAR ENDED THE CAR I FRONT OF ME AT 2-3 MPH. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONDITION OCCURRED AGAIN AT NEARLY A COMPLETE STO... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 11, 2013
AIR BAG COMES ON CONSTANTLY. 4+ TIMES IN ONE YEAR. WILL HAVE TO TAKE BACK TO DEALER TO CHECK AGAIN. *TR
Incident date: Nov 1, 2009
2005 LOTUS ELISE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR OF VEHICLES OIL COOLER LINE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THE FAILURE TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE DATE RANGE AS SET FOR IN THE REIMBURSEMENT PLAN. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION OF HOW THE DATE RANGE WAS SET. HE STATED TH... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2012
THE CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ENGINERING/DESIGN DEFECT CAUSES ENGINE HEAT TO BOIL HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FLUID, LEADING TO HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FLUID DECAY OVER TIME, LEADING TO FAILURE OF MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER AND CLUTCH PEDAL STOCK IN DOWN POSITION WHILE DRIVING. THIS ULTIMATELY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO NEUTRAL OR SHIFT GEARS. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IN FOURTH GEAR, WHO KNOWS WHA... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2010
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND MOVED INTO THE #2 LANE AND WAS ACCELERATING. I LOOKED OUT MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DUST CLOUD BEHIND ME. I LOOKED AT THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME EXPECTING TO SEE SOME DIRT ON THE ROAD, BUT THERE WASN'T ANY. I LOOKED BACK AND IT SEEMED THAT IT WAS LIKE A DIRTY BROWN SMOKE. I WAS MY CAR. (I LATER REALIZED THE CLOUD WAS A SPRAY OF OIL MIST.) I WAS GOING 65 ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2010
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND MOVED INTO THE #2 LANE AND WAS ACCELERATING. I LOOKED OUT MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DUST CLOUD BEHIND ME. I LOOKED AT THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME EXPECTING TO SEE SOME DIRT ON THE ROAD, BUT THERE WASN'T ANY. I LOOKED BACK AND IT SEEMED THAT IT WAS LIKE A DIRTY BROWN SMOKE. I WAS MY CAR. (I LATER REALIZED THE CLOUD WAS A SPRAY OF OIL MIST.) I WAS GOING 65 ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2012
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN THE #1 LANE WHEN I SMELLED BURNING OIL. I HADN'T NOTICED THE CAR PERFORMING DIFFERENTLY SO I LOOKED AHEAD TO THE FORWARD CARS FOR THE 'GROSS POLLUTER' CAUSING THE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE WITH MY FIRST FORWARD INSPECTION. I THEN IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT LIT ON THE DASH. AT THE SAME INSTANT I LOOKED OUT OF THE SIDE MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE PO... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2012
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN THE #1 LANE WHEN I SMELLED BURNING OIL. I HADN'T NOTICED THE CAR PERFORMING DIFFERENTLY SO I LOOKED AHEAD TO THE FORWARD CARS FOR THE 'GROSS POLLUTER' CAUSING THE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE WITH MY FIRST FORWARD INSPECTION. I THEN IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT LIT ON THE DASH. AT THE SAME INSTANT I LOOKED OUT OF THE SIDE MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE PO... Read more
Incident date: Jul 24, 2012
HAVE A LEAK AROUND OIL COOLER. I'M AFRAID IF OIL GETS ON TO EXHAUST IT COULD START A FIRE OR IF IT GETS ON THE TIRES CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE 2005 AND 2006 HAVE ALREADY BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND A RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED BUT APPARENTLY DOES NOT INCLUDE MY 2007 MODEL. *TR
Incident date: Mar 2, 2009
RIGHT SIDE OIL COOLER HOSE BLEW OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH SPRAYING OIL OVER THE RIGHT BACK TIRE. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND CAR COASTED TO A STOP POSITION ON SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WAS INOPERABLE AND TOWED TO DEALER. *TR
Incident date: Apr 28, 2010
FRONT OIL COOLER HOSE BLEW OFF SPRAYING UNDERSIDE OF CAR WITH OIL. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND TOWED TO DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE FIX. *TR
Incident date: Jan 4, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY 2012 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V510000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WANTED TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BUT... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH WHEN THE DEFROST FAN FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,400.
Incident date: Jan 14, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V510000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY HAD NO TIME FRAME AS TO WHEN THE NECESSARY PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,300.
Incident date: May 10, 2012
SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. RECEIVED NEW ENGINE FROM LOTUS 4/21/2012 AND HAD ABOUT 700 MILES ON NEW ENGINE. WAS DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IN MID GEARS. NOTED SOME ODD ENGINE RATTLING NOISES BRIEFLY. SECONDS LATER, STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHICH DISSIPATED. THEN SAW FLICKERING INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS WHICH STOPPED BUT RESUMED AND WAS LOW OIL LIGHT WHICH WENT OUT AND THEN CAME ON... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2012
THE OIL LINE LEADING TO THE FRONT OIL COOLER FAILED AT THE ENGINE SIDE, WHERE THE HOSE MEETS THE CONNECTOR. THIS CAUSED THE OIL TO LEAK ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY AND EXHAUST. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND THERE'S ALREADY A RECALL FOR 05&06 CARS, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS FOR 07 CARS AS WELL. THE OIL LEAK CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY IN MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE IN... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 19, 2012
AWARE OF NHTSA RECALL # 11V-510 HAVING RECEIVED LETTER FROM LOTUS CARS USA BUT WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE WAS PROBABLY NOT AFFECTED. MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF OIL LEAKAGE ANYWAY BUT SAW NOTHING: NO CHANGE IN OIL LEVEL ON DIPSTICK CHECKS, NO SIGNS OF OIL UNDER CAR. WHILE ACCELERATING ON EXPRESSWAY, HAD LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND NOTICED SOME DIFFICULTY STEERING DUE TO SLICKNESS AS CAR WAS BROUGHT... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V510000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE TO FIND OUT HOW TO PURSUE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. ..UPDATED ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE OIL FILTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIG... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2012
MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE YESTERDAY. THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE. SHE'S COMMUTED WITH THE CAR TO WORK 3 TIMES A WEEK, 90 MILES ROUND TRIP FOR 7+ MONTHS, LOGGING MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES, AND MUCH MORE THAN I HAVE. ALSO SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING STICK FOR 17 YEARS, AND ROUTINELY DRIVES SPORTS CARS (MINI COOPER S, Z3). 70 MPH (IN 70 ZONE) CRUISING IN #2 LANE REASONABLE FOLLOWING DISTANCE. TRAFFIC AHEAD ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2012
OIL COOLER HOSE SEPARATED FROM FITTING AT THE SANDWICH PLATE ON THE ENGINE. *TR
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
OIL LINE FAILURE BY THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) TIRE. WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON THE FREEWAY, NO COLLISION OF ANY SORT. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL BY THE FRONT TIRE. APPARENTLY A RECALL IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NO FIX IS AVAILABLE YET. RECALL SUMMARY CAN BE SEEN HERE: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/RECALLS/RECALLSUMMARY.CFM?RCL_CAMPAIGN_ID=11V510000&PROD_ID=2... Read more