RecallMyCar

Lotus Esprit Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 3 owner complaints across 11 model years of the Lotus Esprit (1978–2003). The most-complained-about year is 1987.

5
safety recalls, all years
3
owner complaints, all years
1997
year with most recalls
1987
year with most complaints

Pick your Lotus Esprit model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 Lotus Esprit10
2002 Lotus Esprit10
2001 Lotus Esprit10
2000 Lotus Esprit10
1999 Lotus Esprit10
1998 Lotus Esprit21
1997 Lotus Esprit40
1995 Lotus Esprit11
1987 Lotus Esprit01
1979 Lotus Esprit10
1978 Lotus Esprit10

What Lotus Esprit owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The 1987 model year has the most, with 1.

All Lotus Esprit recalls (5)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Lotus Esprit, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 04V001000 Reported 660 vehicles potentially affected GROUP LOTUS PLC

    Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no, 208, "occupant crash protection." certain air bag warning labels are required on both sun visors and the above vehicles failed to have the required labels affixed to the driver's side sun visor.

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with labels and installation instructions. Owner notification is expected to begin during january 2004. Owners should contact lotus at 1-800-245-6887.

    Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

  2. Rim (wheels)

    NHTSA 98V135000 Reported 160 vehicles potentially affected LOTUS CARS OF AMERICA INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain wheels were not properly heat treated for hardness. The rear wheels could crack and break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these wheels.

    Model years: 1997, 1998

  3. Rim (wheels)

    NHTSA 97V202000 Reported 11 vehicles potentially affected LOTUS CARS OF AMERICA INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain wheels were not properly heat treated for hardness. The rear wheels could crack and break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace these wheels.

    Model years: 1997

  4. Air bags

    NHTSA 96V244000 Reported 240 vehicles potentially affected LOTUS CARS OF AMERICA INC

    Air bag and seat belt system warning labels are missing from the sun visor. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 108, "occupant crash protection."

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with labels and installation instructions. If they so desire, they can have their dealers install these labels for them.

    Model years: 1995, 1997

  5. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 78V238000 Reported 146 vehicles potentially affected LOTUS CARS OF AMERICA INC

    The involved vehicles are equipped with a tube which is used to connect a filter component in the fuel system. This tube could become damaged as a result of exposure to abnormally high ambient temperatures and the action of certain fuels. The damaged tube could allow fuel leakage to occur.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the fuel system tubing without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1978, 1979

Other Lotus models

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.