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.
The worst 2005 Lotus Elise problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine31
- Transmission5
- Electrical4
- Visibility4
- Suspension3
- Brakes1
- Locks1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Lotus Elise
Recalls 2
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 11V510000 · Recall details
Power train: manual transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the gear levers. The recall began on february 10, 2006. Owners may contact lotus cars USA at 1‑800‑245‑6887.
Recall number 05V571000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2005 Lotus Elise
Defect investigations
Engine Oil Cooler Line Detachment
On October 14, 2011, Lotus Cars USA Inc. notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety recall (11V‑510) to address concerns with engine oil cooler lines detaching from its crimped fitting on MY 2005-2006 Lotus Elise vehicles.In its 573 report to ODI, Lotus indicated that they have identified instances where the oil cooler lines would detach from their fittings.Lotus attributes this condition to a majority of single supplier affected parts built from June 2004 to November 2006.Lotus states that the cause of the failure is an inadequate process by which the hose is crimped into its fitting by the supplier.In October 2006 the supplier implemented an improved crimping process.Reports indicated that this condition can occur while driving or while the vehicle is stationary with the engine running.In cases where the failure occurred while driving, oil would be expelled under pressure and could come into contact with the tires and or brake friction surfaces, potentially causing a loss of braking or vehicle control. One crash and one vehicle fire were also reported with no injuries.Additionally Lotus indicated that the same condition can occur in MY 2005-2006 Exige vehicles as well. These vehicles are also included in the recall.The action taken by Lotus is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.This investigation is therefore closed.
PE11022
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Lotus Elise 13
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Standard information required and procedures to be followed when reporting ECU & TCU faults
- There is often inconsistent or insufficient information received from dealers when reporting ECU and TCU...
- Air conditioning compressors failing due to oil starvation
- Any unauthorised modifications, including fitment of non-approved after-market air filter resulting in...
- Compatibility of Yokohama AD07 and V105 tire product ranges for the Elise model range.
- Recommendation of revision to manual brake bleeding procedure on any Elise models fitted with a brake...
- Retrofitment of the latest level CDL (Central Door Locking) actuator to earlier models if required
- Clarification of air conditioning compressor ?Running-In? Procedure
- To reinforce the importance of checking and clearing stored fault codes at time of PDI (Pre-Delivery...
- Retrofitment of the latest level windscreen washer bottle/pump assembly to earlier models if required
What 2005 Lotus Elise owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The federal safety agency 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.
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 reimbursement plan. The consumer stated there was no explanation of how the date range was set. He stated the recall explained the defect was on lotus vehicle manufactured from 2004-2006. The consumer stated he purchased his vehicle in march 2006. The failure occurred six months out warranty in november 2009. The consumer stated for some reason, the reimbursement window began october 5, 2010.
Front oil cooler hose blew off spraying underside of car with oil. Pulled vehicle over and towed to dealer for maintenance fix.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 lotus elise. The contact stated that he received a recall notice in january 2012 for the federal safety agency 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
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.the federal safety agency.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.
Wiring on auto has been a mess since new, auto towed 15 times for mechanical reasons and addition times tow truck was coming and car would start. Shifter broke off at 2,000 miles, transaxle was replaced at about 20,000 miles alarm system, alternator,speakers,turn indicators, front steering box (rack), vehicle computer (speed indicated on dash has been at lest 15% high since transaxle was replaced)-- have all failed. Lotus dealerships where never able to locate or fix wiring problem (fox valley, aurora il another lake forest has no authorized lotus mechanic.) lotus USA inc. Covered most until warranty expired ,now will not return phone calls or e-mails (over 15 sent in the last year and a half.). Auto now has 26,666 miles and has not been driven since august of 2010. It will not past wisconsin emissions so I am unable to get license plates also it will change lanes off a straight line without warning. Auto was never on a track and always stored in a heat and rodent controlled area. A independent mechanic that worked on auto stated "the wiring harness appears to have been pulled and installed through out the auto with out regard to sharp edges or care in anyway", he found no rodent damage.
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.
This is a complaint for a 2005 lotus elise oil line failure. I previously reported two oil line failures together but in retrospect should have reported them individually as they occurred at separate times. The first oil line failure occurred on 3/29/2010. I came out to my car in the parking lot and there was a large puddle of oil under it. I did not ever see a drop of oil from the car previously. I paid 1,066 to get the driver side oil line repaired. I was told that the passenger side oil line should be fixed but I was not told that if it failed while driving that I could potentially lose control of the car. The passenger side oil line did indeed fail 4 months later but this time while I was driving on a highway going 55 MPH. The entire oil capacity of the engine sprayed onto the passenger side front and rear tires as well as the windshield. Not only was it like driving on a sheet of ice, I could not see anything. Luckily there was no one in the lane next to me as I slid into it. I was able to gain control of the car and pull over. By the time I pulled over the engine was ruined requiring me to pay approximately 8,000 for a new engine and new oil lines. I have pictures of the car showing the entire passenger side of the car covered in oil. Updated 08-29/11 *bf *kb updated 05/03/12
Compare the 2005 Lotus Elise
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Questions about the 2005 Lotus Elise
Is the 2005 Lotus Elise reliable?
Owners have filed 46 complaints about the 2005 Lotus Elise, 2.7 times a typical Elise model year.
What is the 2005 Lotus Elise year score?
The 2005 Lotus Elise scores 38 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Lotus Elise: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Lotus Elise?
Engine and cooling, with 31 complaints, typically around 29,268 miles. Next is transmission (5).
How many recalls does the 2005 Lotus Elise have?
2 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling and power train.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Lotus Elise engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 11V510000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Lotus Elise have bad engine?
The Lotus Elise model years with the most engine complaints are 2005 (31 complaints) and 2006 (13 complaints).
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