2005 Lotus Elise Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Elise years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Lotus Elise. That is the most of any Elise model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (28 complaints, 61%), typically at around 28,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 46owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Lotus Elise problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 28 | 61% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 11% | 14,300 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 9% | 18,100 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 9% | 19,400 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 7% | 70,765 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 7% | 31,983 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 4% | 48,646 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | 9,105 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | 41,187 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | 26,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Lotus Elise recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling; engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 6-speed manual transmissions, the gear lever may break.
Risk: This could result in the inability to change gears, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the gear levers. The recall began on february 10, 2006. Owners may contact lotus cars usa at 1-800-245-6887.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine Oil Cooler Line Detachment (PE11022) — opened Jul 18, 2011, closed Nov 3, 2011, led to recall 11V510000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
Front oil cooler hose blew off spraying underside of car with oil. Pulled vehicle over and towed to dealer for maintenance fix. *tr
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
Other Lotus Elise years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Elise | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 Elise | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 Elise | 1 | 2 |
| 2008 Elise | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 Elise | 8 | 2 |
| 2006 Elise | 17 | 1 |
| 2005 | 46 | 2 |
See all Lotus Elise problems by year, every Lotus model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Lotus Elise?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 28 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Lotus Elise?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Lotus Elise a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Elise model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.