2006 Lotus Elise Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Elise years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Lotus Elise. That ranks 2nd out of 7 Elise model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (11 complaints, 65%), typically at around 35,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 17owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2006 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 | 11 | 65% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 12% | 35,750 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 12% | 38,950 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 6% | 15,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2006 Lotus Elise recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
Oil cooler hose separated from fitting at the sandwich plate on the engine. *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 | 17 | 1 |
| 2005 Elise | 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 2006 Lotus Elise?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Lotus Elise?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2006 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 2006 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.