Radiator cooling fins are metal, but each side has a rectangular plastic tubing that allows water to flow up and down each side of the radiator. At 16,200 miles, the plastic portion of the radiator on the driver side catastrophically failed, resulting in a 6 inch crack in the plastic portion, spraying radiator fluid all over the windshield, unexpectedly. (I have a picture of the crack, if that would be helpful.) from reviews of the lotustalk.com forum, it is apparent that this radiator is cracking in a similar fashion, regularly and at low mileage, requiring owners to replace the radiator (my cost was approximately $1,700 in parts and labor). Several owners are noted to be replacing the plastic radiator with an all metal unit, at their cost, prior to any failures, for fear of the plastic radiator cracking on them, as has happened to so many others. I contacted lotus to seek assistance with the parts and/or labor and despite documenting the frequency that this is occurring, they refused to provide any assistance, only noting that the vehicle is beyond the 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty. Radiators are not supposed to fail at 16,000 miles - the oem part is clearly a defective design and lotus should make them right; owners should not have to pay $1,700 to have a radiator that will last beyond 16,000 miles.
The worst 2008 Lotus Exige S problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Lotus Exige S 10
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...
- Lotus: information provided regarding the inspection of all brake pipe/hose, on some vehicles, based on...
- Lotus cars: the procedure to retrofit an oil cooler transfer hose in models elise/exige
- Lotus: a small range of platform models considered to be at risk from insecure rear hub bolts
- Lotus: inspection of oil cooler sandwich plate used on cars with front mounted oil coolers
- Lotus: revised clip to secure door latch release rod
- Lotus: oil cooler sandwich plate inspection
What 2008 Lotus Exige S owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Compare the 2008 Lotus Exige S
Other model years
20072008
Questions about the 2008 Lotus Exige S
Is the 2008 Lotus Exige S reliable?
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2008 Lotus Exige S, fewer than a typical Exige S model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Lotus Exige S?
Engine and cooling, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2008 Lotus Exige S have?
No recalls on record.
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