2007 Lotus Elise Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 38%of 8 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine of the 2007 Lotus Elise, 38% of the 8 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was on the freeway driving at freeway speeds in the #1 lane when I smelled burning oil. I hadn't noticed the car performing differently so I looked ahead to the forward cars for the 'gross polluter' causing the smell. I didn't see anyone with my first forward inspection. I then immediately noticed the oil light lit on the dash. At the same instant I looked out of the side mirror and saw smoke pouring from my car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10482713, filed 2012-10, 89,000 miles“I was on the freeway and moved into the #2 lane and was accelerating. I looked out my rearview mirror and saw what I thought was a dust cloud behind me. I looked at the road in front of me expecting to see some dirt on the road, but there wasn't any. I looked back and it seemed that it was like a dirty brown smoke. I was my car. (I later realized the cloud was a spray of oil mist.) I was going 65 or 70 MPH and didn't notice anything unusual with the drivability. I looked at my instrument panel & noticed the oil light was on. I shot over to the exit and to the off-ramp. …”
NHTSA complaint #10482729, filed 2012-10, 55,000 miles“Second time this has happened. Received new engine from Lotus 4/21/2012 and had about 700 miles on new engine. Was driving on residential street in mid gears. Noted some odd engine rattling noises briefly. Seconds later, strong smell of gasoline which dissipated. Then saw flickering instrument panel warning lights which stopped but resumed and was low oil light which went out and then came on full. Stopped immediately and turned off engine. Car was towed by flat bed back to Lotus dealer in nj.”
NHTSA complaint #10458242, filed 2012-05, 35,167 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10175849May 19, 2020Any unauthorised modifications, including fitment of non-approved after-market air filter resulting in generation of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCâs) P0101 & P1109. We have had…
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2007 Lotus Elise
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology