2006 Lotus Elise Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2006 Lotus Elise, and owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2006 Lotus Elise
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine and engine cooling and hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)
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.
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.
17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2006 Lotus Elise have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 30,442 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 8 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I have an inquire in regard to my 2006 lotus elise (VIN [xxx]) oil line issue that happened on 12/11/13. I was driving normally and the engine light came on all the sudden. I pulled over shortly after”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 24, 2013 · Engine
“Tl* 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:hos”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 14, 2012 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2006 Lotus Elise/Exige. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19 / 27 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
| Transmission | Manual 6-spd |
Compare Lotus Elise model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lotus Elise model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Lotus Elise | 2 | 46 |
| 2006 Lotus Elise | 1 | 17 |
| 2007 Lotus Elise | 2 | 8 |
| 2008 Lotus Elise | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 Lotus Elise | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 Lotus Elise | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 Lotus Elise | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2006 Lotus Elise
How do I know if my 2006 Lotus Elise has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2006 Lotus Elise; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lotus dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V510000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Lotus models
- Evora16 complaints
- Elan14 complaints
- Exige S8 complaints
- Esprit3 complaints
- Exize2 complaints
- Emira1 complaints
- Exige1 complaints
- Eclat0 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.