2005 Lotus Elise: engine failure

Filed Aug 15, 2012 · Engine · 62,800 miles · CA

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.

Filed Aug 17, 2011 · Engine · 29,268 miles · GA

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

Filed Jan 19, 2011 · Engine · 55,000 miles · CA

On starting my car in the morning, the passenger side oil cooler hose from the engine to the front oil cooler separated at the rear crimp, quickly draining all of the oil. The oil warning light came on, and as I shut the engine off the engine made a couple of rattling noises. On attempting to replace the defective hose, I have been unable to find the part in stock, leading me to have new hoses made by a hydraulic shop. The failure is at a minimum responsible for a costly repair and clean up, that may take several weeks due to parts availability, and in a worst case may cause an accident due to oil on the tires, as well as engine failure due to loss of oil. My car is a 2005 elise with 55,000 miles.

Filed Aug 18, 2009 · Engine · 24,000 miles · MD

Premature wearing on cam shaft in engine resulting in internal engine failure.

Filed Aug 9, 2006 · Transmission · 1,600 miles · FL

Manual transmission popped unexpectedly out of 5th gear during hard driving causing driver to select wrong gear in attempt to regain control of vehicle. The placing of the transmission into 3rd gear by mistake LED to catastrophic over-revving of the engine with engine failure (total loss). Dealer had been advised regarding the popping out of gear prior to the fatal event and was unable to find problem. The engine was replace and in spite of dealer assessment the problem has continued. The problem now has worsened to grinding of the gears on simple driving. A local transmission specialist has advised defective transmission. The manufacturer has been advised, but reports to me that they do not believe there is a problem. Their engineers cannot conceivable think of a way the gearbox /transmission can "pop" out of gear if properly placed into the gear. The problem has been observed by two other independent drivers who have had the problem occur with their use of the vehicle. I as the owner have purchased another transmission to replace the defective transmission. The manufacturer has been notified and has reported no interest in seeing the defective part, nor any willingness to participate in fixing the issue. Issues remain: manufacturer unwilling to investigate the complaint as well as recognize that the problem could exist. Safety concern remains for those not expecting the sudden loss of control which can lead to an accident or as in my case the destruction of the engine.