2009 Lotus Elise Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Elise years
- Not enough data 4th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2009 Lotus Elise. That ranks 4th out of 7 Elise model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 20,200 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 1owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2009 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 100% | 20,200 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2009 Lotus Elise recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its fitting.
Risk: A detached oil hose 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 replace the oil cooler hose fittings on the Elise and Exige vehicles and will replace the oil cooler hose assemblies on the Evora vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887. Lotus' number for this recall is 201401R (Elise/Exige), and 2014/02R (Evora). Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 11V-510 and 13V-041.
Wheels:hub
Problem: Lotus is recalling 87 model year 2009 elise and exige vehicles manufactured from june 20, 2008 through may 5, 2009. The rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles may be under-torqued and may become loose. If that occurs, an insecure hub could lead to degradation in vehicle handling, and a rubbing noise from the rear of the vehicle.
Risk: If the problem is not addressed promptly, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a crash.
Fix: Lotus will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during june 2009. Owners may contact lotus toll-free 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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Momentary brake failure yesterday. This happened to my wife. She's commuted with the car to work 3 times a week, 90 miles round trip for 7+ months, logging many thousands of miles, and much more than i have. Also she has been driving stick for 17 years, and routinely drives sports cars (mini cooper…
Other Lotus Elise years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Elise | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 Elise | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 | 2 |
| 2008 Elise | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 Elise | 8 | 2 |
| 2006 Elise | 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 2009 Lotus Elise?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Lotus Elise?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2009 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 2009 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.