2006 Lotus Elise Problems
- Complaints
- 17filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 32,500miles, 14 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 22 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 27 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Lotus Elise (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2006 Lotus Elise. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 11 complaints (65% of the total), followed by engine (2) and other or unknown (2). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 86% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 32,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 15 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the hoses/lines/piping/fittings, 1 NHTSA investigation and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling11 65%
- Engine2 12%
- Other or unknown2 12%
- Steering1 5.9%
- Suspension1 5.9%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “The hose connecting the two oil coolers in the front of the car failed on the freeway. I felt the car dangerously losing traction on the left side of the driver and I also saw the oil light coming on, and pulled over immediately. I had to replace the hose, it cost me $775. Two weeks from that, the hose fitting failed again, my car is in the shop right now, who knows how much the damage is now.”
NHTSA complaint #10402119, filed 2011-05, 38,827 milesEngine: “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 the necessary parts would be available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11,300.”
NHTSA complaint #10458335, filed 2012-05, 11,300 milesOther or unknown: “On my 2006 Lotus Elise I was driving down the freeway when all of a sudden the check oil light came on. I wasn't in a position to pull over for a few more miles down the road. All of a sudden the car locked up and stopped on the side of the road. Oil was in the tires and all over the back of the car. I took it to my mechanic and he said the oil hose came lose, causing the oil to spew out of the car. The car is no longer under warranty, and I was never notified of this issue after bringing my car to Lotus of s.f. Multiple times to receive other warranty work on the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10381380, filed 2011-02, 58,900 milesSteering: “Please note, I have not had an issue yet, but other people I know have. The rear suspension inner toe link has been known to fail on the 05 + 06 Lotus Elise. I have seen failures of this part shearing apart on vehicles with as low as 5000 miles. A catastrophic failure of this part causes the car to become uncontrollable and undriveable. It is a serious situation where someone could be injured or killed. Luckily no one has of yet. Here is an internet link that describes the issue in a little better detail, and shows what happens to the toe link. …”
NHTSA complaint #10158149, filed 2006-05Mileage when problems were reported
86% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,000 and 40,400 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2006 Lotus Elise version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elise/Exige RWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,750 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 11V510000Oct 14, 2011Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Hoses/lines/piping/fittingsCovers: Lotus Elise 2005–2007, Exige 2005–2006, Exige S 2007
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.
Recall details for the 2006 Lotus Elise → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE11022Engine Oil Cooler Line DetachmentClosed · Jul 18, 2011
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 15 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10209516Mar 16, 2022Transmission and drivetrain. Standard information required and procedures to be followed when reporting ECU & TCU faults. There is often insufficient, or inconsistent information received from dealers when reporting ECU & TCU…
- 10198785Jun 16, 2021Engine cooling. There is often inconsistent or insufficient information received from dealers when reporting ECU and TCU related faults. This bulletin aims to standardise the information when filing a claim to…
- 10180671Sep 30, 2020Equipment. Air conditioning compressors failing due to oil starvation. TSB reminds dealers of correct replacement and running-in procedures.
- 10175849May 19, 2020Engine, Equipment. Any unauthorised modifications, including fitment of non-approved after-market air filter resulting in generation of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCâs) P0101 & P1109. We have had several instances…
- 10160754May 15, 2019Tires, Wheels. Compatibility of Yokohama AD07 and V105 tire product ranges for the Elise model range.
- 10143132Sep 2, 2016Brakes, Equipment. Recommendation of revision to manual brake bleeding procedure on any Elise models fitted with a brake servo unit. Whilst performing a brake fluid bleeding procedure, it is possible that the brake…
- 10143130Aug 13, 2015Equipment, Latches, locks and linkages. Retrofitment of the latest level CDL (Central Door Locking) actuator to earlier models if required. Due to parts obsolescence the CDL actuator assembly, part number B116M6039F is no longer…
- 10143127Sep 25, 2014Equipment. Clarification of air conditioning compressor ?Running-In? Procedure. Insufficient lubrication will result in compressor failure due to seizure, reducing air conditioning performance and also…
- 10143126Jul 28, 2014Electrical system. To reinforce the importance of checking and clearing stored fault codes at time of PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection). The increased frequency of battery disconnection/reconnection that vehicles are…
- 10143124Feb 21, 2014Equipment, Transmission and drivetrain, Visibility…. Retrofitment of the latest level windscreen washer bottle/pump assembly to earlier models if required. Due to parts obsolescence the windscreen washer bottle/pump assembly fitted to all Toyota power…
Other model years of the Lotus Elise
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 8 | 31,500 | 2 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 17 | 32,500 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Stable |
| 2005 | 46 | 28,000 | 2 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Lotus Elise have?
NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2006 Lotus Elise as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2006 Lotus Elise is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 11 complaints (65% of the total), followed by engine with 2.
Has the 2006 Lotus Elise been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Lotus Elise get?
The EPA rates the 2006 Lotus Elise (Elise/Exige, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Lotus Elise reported?
Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 32,500 miles and the middle half falls between 13,000 and 40,400 miles; 86% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.