Lotus Elan MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 78.3% of Lotus Elan MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 1,352 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
At 6–10 years
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
At 11 years and over
78.2%
All cars: 61.3% (16.9 points better). 1,343 tests.
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20+ | 1,343 | 78.2% | 61.4% | 73,750 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Lotus Elan MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | Elan | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 20.9% | 10.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 14.9% | 16.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6% | 4.0% |
| Visibility | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Suspension | 3.5% | 13.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 2.9% | 4.2% |
| Tyres | 1.0% | 8.4% |
| Steering | 1.0% | 2.5% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements failed 4.5% of tests
- Service brake performance: efficiency below requirements failed 2.9% of tests · what this means
- Service brake imbalance: across an axle failed 2.7% of tests · what this means
- Service brake performance: excessively binding failed 2.5% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam failed 2.3% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: too low failed 1.8% of tests · what this means
- Non catalyst emissions: emissions carbon monoxide content excessive failed 1.8% of tests · what this means
- Rbt (sp): efficiency less than 50% of the required value failed 1.8% of tests
- Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt failed 1.6% of tests
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect failed 1.6% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular Elan?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every Elan version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: petrol 99.9%, electric 0.1%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Lotus models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.