ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
Defect Description
LOTUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELISE AND EXIGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2006. THE OIL COOLER LINE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM ITS FITTING.
Consequence
A DETACHED OIL LINE COULD SPRAY OIL ON A TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR IT COULD SPRAY OIL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy
LOTUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LOTUS AT 1-800-245-6887.
5,041 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: LOTUS CARS LTD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Defect Description
LOTUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELISE AND EXIGE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2006. THE OIL COOLER LINE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM ITS FITTING.
Consequence
A DETACHED OIL LINE COULD SPRAY OIL ON A TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR IT COULD SPRAY OIL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy
LOTUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LOTUS AT 1-800-245-6887.
5,041 vehicles affected
Manufacturer: LOTUS CARS LTD
Complaint Statistics
18 total complaints
1 fires
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
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 FRO
... NT RIGHT SIDE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT THE OIL LINE WAS DIS-ATTACHED FROM THE CONNECTOR. I HAD BEEN TRYING TO THE CALLED THE LOTUS USA # 1800-245-6887 SINCE THE INCIDENT (12/11/13). I CALLED ON 3 DIFFERENT DAYS (12/11/13, 12/20/13, AND 12/23/13); CALLED 5-6 TIMES, AND LEFT 3 VOICE MESSAGES TO [XXX] WITH MY NAME, THE INQUIRY, AND MY PHONE #, AND UNTIL TO DATE (11/24/13) NO ONE EVER CALLED BACK. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TRRead more
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 TH
... E NECESSARY PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,300.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 01/25/16 *BF UPDATED 01/28/16.*JBRead 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 TH
... E CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V510000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2012
OIL COOLER HOSE SEPARATED FROM FITTING AT THE SANDWICH PLATE ON THE ENGINE. *TR
Incident date: Dec 22, 2011
AS I WAS PULLING ONTO MY STREET, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY FOUND A PLACE TO STOP AND PARK THE CAR, AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED THE SMELL OF OIL IN THE CABIN. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED OIL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE & WHEEL, AND APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER PARKING T
... HERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDERNEATH THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR. MY ONLINE SEARCH FOR A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE OIL COOLER LINES. *TRRead more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2011
AS I WAS PULLING ONTO MY STREET, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY FOUND A PLACE TO STOP AND PARK THE CAR, AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED THE SMELL OF OIL IN THE CABIN. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED OIL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE & WHEEL, AND APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER PARKING T
... HERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDERNEATH THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR. MY ONLINE SEARCH FOR A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE OIL COOLER LINES. *TRRead more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2011
OIL COOLER SUPPLY LINE CONNECTED TO THE SANDWICH PLATE WHERE THE OIL FILTER SCREWS IN, ON MY 06 LOTUS ELISE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE COUPLING, SPRAYING OIL EVERYWHERE AND PERMANENTLY DAMAGING MY ENGINE. THE ENGINE ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT, AND NOW IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NEW MOTOR, AND LABOR CO
... STING OVER 6000 DOLLARS TO FIX. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY LOTUS, AS NUMEROUS LOTUS OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS AND DISCUSSING THIS ON THE ONLINE FORUMS. BEING THE 2ND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, I AM NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND ALL THE REPAIR COST ARE COMING OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. I WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY I CAN GET SOME COMPENSATION BACK FROM LOTUS, AS I ONLY PUT 5K MILES ON THE CAR BEFORE THIS HAPPENED... *TRRead more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2011
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, AND AFTER ABOUT HALF OF A MILE I STARTED TO SMELL BURNING OIL AND THOUGHT TO MYSELF "BOY, I'M GLAD THAT SMELL ISN'T COMING FROM MY CAR!" I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A THICK TRAIL OF OIL FOLLOWING ME AND LOOKED AT MY OIL LIGH
... T AND SAW THAT IT WAS ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. THERE WAS OIL COVERING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, BRAKE ASSEMBLY, AND SUSPENSION. THE REMAINING TWO OR THREE QUARTS CAME OUT WHILE I WAS CALLING THE TOW TRUCK. THE SHOP MECHANICS SAID THAT THE OIL COOLER HOSE SLIPPED OUT OF IT'S CRIMP AND HE SHOWED ME A PHOTOGRAPH. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE IS NO EASY FIX. ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS IN THE LOTUSTALK FORUMS, IT'S COMMON FOR THE CRIMPS TO COME UNDONE. ALTHOUGH I HAD SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE IN TIME TO AVOID A COMPLETE SEIZE UP, THE REPAIR COST WILL STILL BE AROUND $2000 TO REPLACE THE HOSES AND CLAMPS. MOST OF THE COST IS FROM LABOR BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO PULL THE HOSES THROUGH AND THE FRONT CLAMSHELL NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. THERE ARE AFTERMARKET KITS TO REPLACE THESE OIL COOLER HOSE/CLAMP SYSTEMS. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW I'M GOING TO DO THE REPAIRS YET BECAUSE THE NEAREST LOTUS DEALER IS $250 MILES AWAY. ALTHOUGH I WAS UNINJURED, I CAN SEE HOW THIS COULD CAUSE INJURIES - EITHER FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS GETTING COATED WITH OIL, FIRES, OR THE ENGINE SEIZING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE LOTUS ELISE IS A GREAT CAR, BUT THE OIL COOLER HOSE CLAMPS IN THE EARLIER MODELS ARE A BIG PROBLEM! *TRRead more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2006
OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR IN THE FRONT CLAM AREA. *TT
Incident date: Oct 12, 2010
OIL COOLER LINE CRIMP FITTING FAILED AT THE SANDWICH PLATE ADAPTER WHILE DRIVING ONTO A HIGHWAY RAMP. CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED IN REARVIEW MIRROR AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TURNED VEHICLE ENGINE OFF AND REPAIRED MYSELF BY MODIFYING THE CRIMP THAT FAILED. *TR
Incident date: Apr 25, 2011
THE HOSE CONNECTING THE TWO OIL COOLERS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. I FELT THE CAR DANGEROUSLY LOSING TRACTION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER AND I ALSO SAW THE OIL LIGHT COMING ON, AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HOSE, IT COST ME $775. TWO WEEKS FROM THAT, THE H
... OSE FITTING FAILED AGAIN, MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW, WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH THE DAMAGE IS NOW. *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL LINE HOSE FITTINGS CONNECTION FAILED CAUSING THE OIL TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE FROM THE OIL THAT SPILLED ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE
... OF THE ROAD WHERE HE NOTICED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT PUT THE FIRE OUT HIMSELF AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL LINE HOSE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED FOR AT LEAST FOUR WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 8, 2011
ON MY 2006 LOTUS ELISE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WASN'T IN A POSITION TO PULL OVER FOR A FEW MORE MILES DOWN THE ROAD. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOCKED UP AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OIL WAS IN THE TIRES AND ALL OVER THE BACK OF THE CAR
... . I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE OIL HOSE CAME LOSE, CAUSING THE OIL TO SPEW OUT OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO LOTUS OF S.F. MULTIPLE TIMES TO RECEIVE OTHER WARRANTY WORK ON THE CAR. NOW THE ENGINE IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. I'M VERY UPSET AS LOTUS NEVER ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE, ESPECIALLY WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO NEED A NEW ENGINE. ALL IT WAS A HOSE CRIMP THAT CAME LOSE, WHY COULDN'T THEY HAVE LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY LOTUS! MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON LOTUSTALK.COM HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE SOON SO THAT I CAN HAVE THIS CAR FIXED WITHOUT HAVING TO POCKET OUT MY MONIES FOR ANEW ENGINE! *TRRead more
Incident date: Oct 12, 2010
WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN I NOTICED OIL LIGHT CAME ON. DROVE CAR TO NEARBY SERVICE STATION AND NOTICED REAR PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS COVERED IN OIL AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER CAR. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED OIL COOLER LINE. SE
... VERAL SOURCES (WEB FORUM, MECHANIC) HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THESE CARS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TRACTION, OR ENGINE FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2009
BADLY WORN SECOND CAM CAUSING MISFIRE. *TR
Incident date: Jun 6, 2007
I WAS TURNING LEFT OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ACCELERATING IN A SAFE BUT ENTHUSIASTIC MANNER WHEN I FELT A VIOLENT SHUDDER/VIBRATION AT AROUND 30-35 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND FELT INCREASED DRAG AS IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION AND FOUND THE MY DRIVE
... R'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS PUSHED UP INTO THE FENDER AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HEADS HAD POPPED OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE UPPER CONTROL ARM TO THE WHEEL HUB. I POSTED THIS INFO ON A CAR FORUM AND FOUND THAT MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO. ONE MEMBER POSTED A VIDEO THAT HAPPENED TO CATCH THE EVENT. THIS IS THE LINK TO THE FORUM THAT WILL CONTAIN EXTRA INFO. HTTP://WWW.ELISETALK.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=40858&HIGHLIGHT=CONTROL+ARMRead more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2006
PLEASE NOTE, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE YET, BUT OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE. THE REAR SUSPENSION INNER TOE LINK HAS BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL ON THE 05 + 06 LOTUS ELISE. I HAVE SEEN FAILURES OF THIS PART SHEARING APART ON VEHICLES WITH AS LOW AS 5000 MILES. A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS PART CAUSES THE CA
... R TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNDRIVEABLE. IT IS A SERIOUS SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS OF YET. HERE IS AN INTERNET LINK THAT DESCRIBES THE ISSUE IN A LITTLE BETTER DETAIL, AND SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TOE LINK. HTTP://WWW.ELISETALK.COM/FORUMS/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=392088&POSTCOUNT=34 HERE IS ALSO ANOTHER PICTURE OF A DIFFERENT FAILURE OF THIS PIECE. HTTP://WWW.1017.ORG/TEMP/TOELINK.JPG I UNDERSTAND THAT LOTUS SPORT HAS A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING BETTER JOINTS, AND A SUSPENSION BRACE. I WOULD URGE THE NHTSA TO PRESSURE LOTUS INTO DOING A RETROFIT FOR EXISTING CARS, AND IMPROVE THE DESIGN GOING FORWARD. FOR SOME INFO ON THAT BRACE, HERE IS ONE INTERNET DISCUSSION. HTTP://WWW.ELISETALK.COM/FORUMS/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=179555&POSTCOUNT=1 THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *JBRead more
NHTSA Safety Investigations — LOTUS ELISE
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2006
Engine Oil Cooler Line Detachment
On October 14, 2011, Lotus Cars USA Inc. notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety recall (11V-510) to address concerns with engine oil cooler lines detaching from its crimped fitting on MY 2005-2006 Lotus Elise vehicles.In its 573 report to ODI, Lotus indicate
... d that they have identified instances where the oil cooler lines would detach from their fittings.Lotus attributes this condition to a majority of single supplier affected parts built from June 2004 to November 2006.Lotus states that the cause of the failure is an inadequate process by which the hose is crimped into its fitting by the supplier.In October 2006 the supplier implemented an improved crimping process.Reports indicated that this condition can occur while driving or while the vehicle is stationary with the engine running.In cases where the failure occurred while driving, oil would be expelled under pressure and could come into contact with the tires and or brake friction surfaces, potentially causing a loss of braking or vehicle control. One crash and one vehicle fire were also reported with no injuries.Additionally Lotus indicated that the same condition can occur in MY 2005-2006 Exige vehicles as well. These vehicles are also included in the recall.The action taken by Lotus is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.This investigation is therefore closed.Read more