2007 Lotus Elise Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2007 Lotus Elise, and owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

owner complaints to NHTSA

22–23

MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2007 Lotus Elise

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

Engine and engine cooling and hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)

NHTSA 13V041000 Reported February 5, 2013 451 vehicles potentially affected Lotus Cars USA, Inc.

Lotus is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from December 1, 2006, through October 31, 2007. The oil cooler line may become detached from its fitting.

Remedy: Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil cooler hose fittings and the entire lateral oil cooler hose, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 4, 2013. Owners may contact Lotus at…
Engine and engine cooling and hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)

NHTSA 11V510000 Reported October 14, 2011 5,041 vehicles potentially affected LOTUS CARS LTD

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.

8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2007 Lotus Elise have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 34,584 miles. Complaints peaked in 2012 with 4 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Engine3
Engine and engine cooling3
Fuel/propulsion system2
Engine and engine cooling: engine1
Power train1

What owners are reporting

“The 2007+ lotus elise/ exige are all equipped with a shifter that is prone to failure. I have personally had a broken shifter while driving on the highway and was stuck at the 3rd gear and almost got”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 6, 2018 · Power train

“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'”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 31, 2012 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2007 Lotus Elise/Exige. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined	22–23 mpg
City / Highway	20–21 / 26–27
Fuel	Regular
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 2007 Lotus Elise

How do I know if my 2007 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2007 Lotus Elise; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

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.