1998 Lotus Esprit problems
The Lotus Esprit is a sports car built by Lotus Cars from 1976 to 2004 at their Hethel, England factory. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Together with the Lotus Elise / Exige, it is one of Lotus' most long-lived models.
The Esprit was among the first of the (near) straight-lined, hard-edge creased, and sometimes wedge-shaped, polygonal "folded paper" designs of the prolific, and highly successful Italian industrial and automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Esprit's backbone chassis was later adapted to carry the body of the DeLorean car, another low-bodied, Giugiaro-drawn, sharp-creased, wedge-shaped sportscar design. In 1978, the first updates led to the series 2 and 2.2 L (134 cu in) engined Esprit S2.2, made until the 1982–1988 Series 3 and Turbo Esprit models, that used a 1980 Giugiaro designed aerodynamic and aesthetic restyling package.
The Lotus Esprit however, lived on through the 1990s, and into the 2000s. It received its first significant restyling by designer Peter Stevens, who also did styling on the McLaren F1. Stevens gave the Esprit overall softer lines and shapes, but the car did not get a new series number – it is instead often just called the 'Stevens Esprit', or by its project number, the X180, made from 1988 to 1994.
In 1994, an official Series 4 Esprit, drawn by designer Julian Thomson, had a further rounded shape, especially the bumper sections and lower body of the car. Styling-wise, this became the most long-lived Esprit (1994–2004), only receiving its last changes, by Russell Carr in 2002.
Over the years, the performance of the Esprit's 4-cylinder engine was increased from around 150 PS (148 hp; 110 kW) and just under 200 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft) of torque, to double those power figures, mainly through greater inlet and exhaust flow, and strong turbo-charging. And from 1996, a new 3.5 L (214 cu in) V8 twin-turbo engine was added, offering 355 PS (350 hp; 261 kW). Contrary to a long list of low-volume British (sports) cars, with the 3.5 l Rover V8 engine, the Esprit received a Lotus in-house designed V8. Top speed rose from some 214 km/h (133 mph) in 1976, to over 280 km/h (174 mph) for the V8, twenty years later.
After a 28-year production run, the Esprit was one of the last cars made with pop-up headlights, together with the 5th generation Chevrolet Corvette.
Social links
Common 1998 Lotus Esprit problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Lotus Esprit 1998, several common problems have been identified:
- Steering Rack Wear: The steering rack in the Lotus Esprit 1998 is relatively small for its function and may require replacement every three years or so. Signs of wear include slack in the steering or oil leaks from a split gaiter. Replacing the steering rack costs around £300 if exchanged rather than bought new.
- Exhaust System Failures: Owners often opt for aftermarket exhaust systems to enhance sound, but catalytic converters can fail, leading to costly replacements. The presence of two catalytic converters can further increase expenses associated with exhaust system maintenance.
- Electrical System Reliability: Despite the complexity of the electrical systems in the Esprit, failures are rare. When issues arise, they often involve inexpensive components like switches rather than major electrical failures. For instance, non-functional electric windows are more likely due to faulty switches than motor issues.
- Bodywork and Interior Concerns: The Lotus Esprit's bodywork, made of glassfibre, is generally durable. However, early models may require some paintwork touch-ups or even a respray. The chassis, fully galvanized, should not present problems unless there are signs of rust, indicating potential poor repairs following accidents. It is crucial to ensure the air-conditioning system is functioning correctly, as neglect due to infrequent use can lead to expensive repairs.
By addressing these common problems in detail, owners and potential buyers of the Lotus Esprit 1998 can be better informed about the maintenance and potential issues associated with this iconic sports car.
What is the top speed of a 1998 Lotus Esprit?
175 mph
Top speed is over 282 km/h (175 mph). In 1998 the V8 range was split into SE and GT models.
Is the Lotus Esprit V8 reliable?
In general the V8 model is reliable. Major problems have generally been limited to three issues: a) There was a batch of engines that had cylinder liner sealant issues (associated with a change in sealant and installation issues).
What is the most famous Lotus Esprit?
Launched in 1976, the Lotus Esprit is one of the brand's most iconic models, thanks in part to its starring role in the James Bond film of the following year, The Spy Who Loved Me.
What engine is in a Lotus Esprit?
The Lotus V8 engine is designed for installation in the 175mph Lotus Esprit. The optimised light weight and compact size of the Lotus V8 engine provides a verstaile power unit.
1998 Lotus Esprit car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lotus Esprit problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1998 Lotus Esprit vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1998 Lotus Esprit complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1998 Lotus Esprit.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-10-01
- VIN: SCCDC082XWH
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: HORN INOPERATIVE.
1998 Lotus Esprit recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1998 Lotus Esprit.
- Manufacturer: GROUP LOTUS PLC
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: THE ABSENCE OF THE LABELS COULD CREATE A RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY IF THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE NEED TO USE SEAT BELTS IS NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD. IMPROPER USAGE COULD CAUSE INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN THERE IS A CRASH.
- 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.
- Manufacturer: LOTUS CARS OF AMERICA INC
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2001 LOTUS ESPRIT VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 1995, AND MARCH 31, 2001. A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY COULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A LAP PORTION THAT IS LOCKABLE SO AS TO SECURE A CHILD SAFETY SEAT.
- Consequence: IF AN INCORRECT BELT WAS INSTALLED, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT BE CAPABLE OF SECURING A CHILD SEAT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
- Remedy: CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR CARS INTO THEIR LOCAL DEALER FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT BELT ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LOTUS CARS USA AT 1-800-245-6887.
- Manufacturer: LOTUS CARS OF AMERICA INC
- Components: WHEELS:RIM
- Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED FOR HARDNESS. THE REAR WHEELS COULD CRACK AND BREAK.
- Consequence: THE REAR WHEELS COULD CRACK AND BREAK, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1998 Lotus Esprit problems:
1998 Lotus Esprit V8 - Dangers??? | The Lotus Cars Community
Jan 14, 2006 ... Pre-2000 cars have been known to have problems with water leaks between the liners and the block. Lotus solved the problem on later vehicles ...
TRUTH about reliability on newer V8 Esprit? - Page 1 - Esprit ...
Nov 13, 2003 ... The Esprit still suffers from a collection of bad quality parts sourced from other vendors.... the list includes, but is not limited to, exhaust ...
Would buying an early 2000's lotus esprit be a terrible mistake? : r/cars
Nov 12, 2015 ... I know lotus was never know for it's reliability. Now that they've pretty much pulled out of the US would something like an esprit be nearly ...
Are the late V8 Esprits reliable? - Page 1 - Esprit - PistonHeads UK
Sep 21, 2008 ... Has anyone encountered engine liner problems in the later engines? ... Lotus Esprit Forum. The picture was taken in ... © 1998 to 2024 CarGurus UK ...
1998 Lotus Esprit buyer guide : r/lotus
Feb 7, 2020 ... Maintenance costs were admittedly steep, around £1-2k for anything semi major depending on where you go. Reliability was standard Lotus, bless ' ...
Other years of Lotus Esprit
Are you having problems with your 1998 Lotus Esprit?
Leave your review of 1998 Lotus Esprit