There are 31 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2005 Lotus Elise in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 31 of 31 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,187. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,250.
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 TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR
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=215286&MODULETYPE=VEHICLE&MAKE=LOTUS&MODEL=ELISE&VEH_MODEL_YEAR=2005&SEARCHTYPE=DRILLDOWN NOTE: CAN'T GET EXACT MILEAGE OF CAR BECAUSE IT REQUIRES TURNING THE ENGINE ON. *TR
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 IT WAS TAKING TOO LONG FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL, WHICH HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 8/6/12 *CN UPDATED 08/14/2012 *JS
OEM OIL COOLING LINE CRIMP LET GO THAT IS IN FRONT WHEEL WELL TO OIL COOLER. ENGINE OIL POURED ALL OVER FRONT TIRE AND BRAKES. EVEN AT 15 MPH I LOST CONTROL. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE OIL LINE WAS LEAKING AT THE FITTING WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11022 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSE) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,881.
AFTER READING OF SERIOUS OIL LINE FITTING FAILURES ON MY MODEL OF CAR, I INSPECTED MY OIL LINE FITTINGS AND FOUND ONE THAT WAS LEAKING. IF THIS FITTING HAD FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE THE HOSE CAME OFF (WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS), IT WOULD HAVE SPRAYED OIL IN FRONT OF MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND RUINED MY ENGINE. I REPAIRED IT WITH A NEW FITTING THAT IS MORE SECURE THAN THE FACTORY FITTING. I ALSO MADE MEASUREMENTS (USING DIGITAL CALIPERS) OF THE ORIGINAL FITTING CRIMP BEFORE I REMOVED IT, AND ANOTHER FITTING ON THE CAR THAT WASN'T LEAKING OIL. THE MEASUREMENTS SHOWED THAT THE LEAKING FITTING WAS NOT CRIMPED AS TIGHTLY AS THE ONE THAT WASN'T LEAKING. I RECOMMEND THAT THE ORIGINAL CRIMP SPECIFICATIONS BE REVIEWED (THE ORIGINAL SPECIFICATION MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH), AND THAT A RECALL BE ISSUED TO, AT A MINIMUM, MEASURE THE ACTUAL CRIMP SIZE ON ALL SIX OIL LINE FITTINGS ON THE CAR TO SEE IF ANY ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CRIMPED. IF THEY ARE NOT, THEN THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED OR RECRIMPED (IF THAT CAN BE DONE PROPERLY). *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I SUDDENLY SMELLED OIL AND LOOKED DOWN TO SEE MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND FOUND OIL COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE CAR ONTO THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR TIRES. UPON HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOULD THEY FOUND THAT THE INCOMING OIL LINE INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OIL COOLER HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE CONNECTOR. *TR
VEHICLE INSPECTION FOUND OIL IS LEAKING AT OIL HOSE CONNECTOR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CRIMPING OF ADAPTER TO OIL HOSE. EVENTUALLY THIS WILL LEAD TO OIL HOSE DISCONNECTION AND A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL.
2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE OIL LINE RELEASED FROM ITS FITTING ON THE FRONT RIGHT OIL COOLER WETTING THE TIRE WITH OIL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE CAR SPUN AND LEFT THE ROAD. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE MEDIAN AND THE LINE WAS REPAIRED. I SELECTED THE YES RESPONSE TO WAS THERE A CRASH BASED ON THE CAR LEAVING THE ROAD. *TR
OIL LINE FAILURE IN LOTUS ELISE - GOT RED "ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOW" LIGHT, PULLED OVER, CLAMP/HOSE HAD BLOWN OUT AND OIL SPILLED OUT EVERYWHERE. *LN
ON STARTING MY CAR IN THE MORNING, THE PASSENGER SIDE OIL COOLER HOSE FROM THE ENGINE TO THE FRONT OIL COOLER SEPARATED AT THE REAR CRIMP, QUICKLY DRAINING ALL OF THE OIL. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND AS I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF THE ENGINE MADE A COUPLE OF RATTLING NOISES. ON ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HOSE, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PART IN STOCK, LEADING ME TO HAVE NEW HOSES MADE BY A HYDRAULIC SHOP. THE FAILURE IS AT A MINIMUM RESPONSIBLE FOR A COSTLY REPAIR AND CLEAN UP, THAT MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS DUE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY, AND IN A WORST CASE MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO OIL ON THE TIRES, AS WELL AS ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LOSS OF OIL. MY CAR IS A 2005 ELISE WITH 55,000 MILES. *TR
SAID TO BE A 'COMMON' PROBLEM WHEN LOOKING ON FORUMS;MY 2005 LOTUS ELISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON, SO NATURALLY I SEE A GAS STATION AND GO TO PULL IN WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE LOCKS AND SKIDS TO THE RIGHT SIDE . I WAS ONLY DOING LESS THAN 30MPH SO NOTHING BAD HAPPENED . GOT OUT AND MY ENTIRE CRANKCASE OF SYNTHETIC OIL IS ALL UP THE DRIVER SIDE AND COVERING THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE. I WAS HEADED TO THE INTERSTATE AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. I FEEL BLESSED THE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE I HIT HIGH RPM'S. THIS WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A LOCKED UP BOTTOM ENGINE ( THOUSANDS IN REPAIR) OR SLIDING ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED LOTUS WITH NO REPLY. THE ONLINE FORUMS HAVE HORROR STORIES OF THE EXACT SAME THIN HAPPENIN AND I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. THE REPAIR IS A HYDRAULIC HOSE THAT COOLS YOUR ENGINE OIL FROM REAR TO FRONT. THE FITTING IS KNOW TO BE BAD AND JUST BREAK AWAY OVER TIME. A VERY COSTLY PROBLEM IF IGNORED. I'M OUT THE REPAIRS , TOWING, TOW DAMAGE TO FRONT CLAM. *TR
2005 LOTUS ELISE OIL-LINE FAILURE. CATASTROPHIC OIL LINE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE REAR (DRIVEN) WHEEL WAS COATED WITH OIL, CREATING POSSIBLE DEADLY SITUATION. TURNED CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY, STILL MIGHT HAVE ENGINE DAMAGE. SEVERAL OF THESE CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED... LESS THAN 10,000 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MADE. *TR
OIL LINE CONNECTION FAILED WHICH LED TO THE OIL HOSE POPPING OUT OF THE CONNECTION AND CAUSING OIL TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE ALL OVER THE REAR OF THE CAR AND IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRES. AS THE CAR WAS BEING PULLED OVER THE REAR END BROKE LOOSE DUE TO THE OIL BEING PUMPED OUT. I WAS LUCKY THE CAR DIDN'T SPIN OUT OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN A MORE DANGEROUS LOCATION. COST $400 IN REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LOTUS ELISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,200. THE RIGHT REAR OIL LINE AT THE METAL FITTING IS CURRENTLY LEAKING OIL. UPDATED 10/28/11
I BOUGHT MY CAR USED FROM A PRIVATE SELLER IN PENNSYLVANIA. AFTER DOING THE FIRST OIL CHANGE MYSELF I NOTICED THE WAS OIL SEEPING FROM ONE OF THE OIL LINE FITTINGS AT THE SANDWICH PLATE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG LOTUS' YEARS 2005-2007, AND CAN RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE OIL LINE AT SPEED CAUSING A CRASH OR FIRE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE NHTSA IS PERFORMING AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. *KB
2005 LOTUS ELISE OIL-LINE (COOLER LINE) FAILURE. THE OIL LINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL WAS COATED WITH OIL, CREATING POSSIBLE DEADLY SITUATION. I TURNED CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. I HOPE THAT THERE WAS NO ENGINE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IF THE OIL COOLER LINE HAD FAILED AT NIGHT OR DURING A CURVE ON A HIGHWAY, THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS OR TRAGIC. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS FAILURE. *TR
OIL LINE FROM ENGINE TO OIL COOLER FAILED. ALL OIL IN THE ENGINE SPRAYED ONTO BOTTOM OF CAR AND TIRES. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
FRONT OIL COOLER HOSE BLEW OFF SPRAYING UNDERSIDE OF CAR WITH OIL. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND TOWED TO DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE FIX. *TR
Showing 1-20 of 31 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Sep 8, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.