Lotus Exige s problems
The Lotus Exige /ɛɡˈziːʒ/ is a sports car made by the British company Lotus Cars from 2000 until 2021. Originally a coupé version of the Lotus Elise roadster, since the Series 3 the Exige has been the larger-engined model of the family, featuring a V6 engine in place of the Elise's straight-four. Convertible versions of both models are available.
Series 1
The original Exige was launched in 2000 with a naturally aspirated 1.8 L Rover K Series Inline-four engine in VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) tune. It is rated at 177 hp (132 kW; 179 PS) at 7,800 rpm in standard form. There was also a "track spec" version with 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) available. The car has a five-speed manual gearbox, and a claimed top speed of 219 km/h (136 mph). 0–97 km/h (60 mph) was achieved in 4.7 seconds and 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds.
The first generation Exige bodywork was based on that of the Series 1 Elise, which was produced from 1996-2000, although the Elise was updated soon after the introduction of the Exige. The Exige added a non-removable hardtop, "fastback", kamm-tail style rear bodywork with a tinted transparent engine cover and a pylon-mounted rear wing. Front air intakes (blanked on the road cars) and a front splitter were added. Both front and rear bodywork clamshells were widened to accept a wider wheel track. The Series 1 was built until 2001. 604 examples in total were made and the car was not replaced until the Series 2 of 2004.
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Lotus Exige s model years
Common Lotus Exige s problems
Lotus Exige S cars are known for their high performance and unique driving experience, but they also have some common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are some of the most frequently reported issues:
- Reliability: Despite the Exige's reputation for performance, some owners have reported reliability issues with the car. For example, one user on Reddit reported transmission issues with their IPS car, and another user reported problems with the Evora's clutch job, which can cost up to $5,000 to fix.
- Service costs: The Lotus dealer prices for servicing and repairs are reportedly very high, which can be a deterrent for potential buyers. For example, a clutch job on the Evora can cost up to $5,000, and replacement parts are expensive and hard to get. Additionally, the cars were not designed with servicing in mind, which can make repairs more difficult and time-consuming.
- Ergonomics and usability: Some owners have reported issues with the ergonomics and usability of the Lotus Exige S, including uncomfortable seating positions and a lack of storage space. Additionally, the car's focus on performance may make it less practical for everyday use, which can be a drawback for some buyers.
- Dealer network: The Lotus dealer network is reportedly a joke, with limited availability and high prices for servicing and repairs. This can make it difficult for owners to get the support they need, especially if they live in areas without a Lotus dealer.
In summary, while the Lotus Exige S is a high-performance car with a unique driving experience, it also has some common problems based on complaints from owners. These include issues with build quality, reliability, service costs, ergonomics and usability, and the dealer network. Potential buyers should be aware of these issues and consider them carefully before making a purchase.
Is the Lotus Exige reliable?
Reliability & safety
It's fair to say that in the past Lotus has had a dubious reputation for reliability, but the Exige is a very simple car and all of its components are well proven. The V6 engine comes from Toyota, while the traction-control system was developed with industry expert Bosch.
Is a Lotus Exige a good investment?
Its razor-sharp handling, powerful engine, and exhilarating performance make it one of the best-driving cars on the market, while its stylish and comfortable interior enhances the driving experience. The Lotus Exige S2 is a car that has the potential to be an excellent future investment for several reasons.
Does the Lotus Exige have a Toyota engine?
Exige V6 Cup According to Lotus, the Exige Cup has the following specifications: Engine: 3.5 litre Toyota DOHC V6 VVT-i, 24-valve, equipped with Harrop HTV 1320 supercharger producing 345 hp (350 PS) and 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) of torque at 7,000 rpm.
How long do Lotus Cars last?
The Lotus Elise/Exige have a Toyota engine, if maintained properly, even if driven relatively hard will probably last over 100,000 miles.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Lotus Exige s years
We have researched Lotus problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Lotus Exige s cars and compiled the top 2 most problematic Lotus Exige s model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Lotus Exige s model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Lotus Exige s years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Lotus Exige s car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Lotus Exige s , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Engine problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Power train problems
- Visibility/wiper problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Lotus Exige s vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Exige s model years
There were a total of 2 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 8 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Lotus Exige s . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Lotus Exige s vehicles.
List of Lotus Exige s complaints
Lotus Exige s 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2015-11-15
- Date Complaint: 2016-01-07
- VIN: SCCVC11157H
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: ON NOVEMBER 15, 2015 MY 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S EXPERIENCED OIL COOLER LINE FAILURE. I WAS TAKING TURN 8 AT THUNDERHILL RACEWAY AT 95 MPH WHEN THE OIL COOLER TRANSFER HOSE AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR DETACHED AND DUMPED OIL ONTO MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRES AND ALL ALONG THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THIS CREATED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT AND I COULD EASILY HAVE CRASHED AS A RESULT - THE FACT THAT I WAS ON A RACETRACK DOING AN HPDE WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME HELPED PREVENT THAT (HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, IT MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT). ON OCTOBER 22, 2013, THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOTUS OF LAS VEGAS FOR THE NHTSA REQUIRED OIL COOLER LINE RECALL, AND THE RECALL WORK WAS FRAUDULENTLY REPORTED AS BEING COMPLETED. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, I CONTACTED JERRY AT LOTUS OF LAS VEGAS AND HE VERBALLY ADMITTED TO ME THAT HE HAD EMPLOYED A TECHNICIAN WHO HAD TO BE LET GO BECAUSE HE WASN'T DOING HIS JOB. CLEARLY, JERRY WASN'T DOING HIS JOB, EITHER. MY INCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF THIS. THIS EXTREME NEGLIGENCE COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH, AND I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE OTHER CARS THAT HAD THIS RECALL DONE AT LOTUS OF LAS VEGAS WHO WILL PROBABLY FIND THAT THEY WERE DEFRAUDED, TOO. I HAVE ATTACHED THE VEHICLE HISTORY FOR MY CAR FROM LOTUS OF LAS VEGAS SHOWING THE DATES AND THE WORK THAT WAS REPORTED AS COMPLETE. LOTUS OF LAS VEGAS CLEARLY HAD ZERO OVERSIGHT ON THE SAFETY RECALL WORK THEY WERE COMPLETING, AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON JERRY'S SHOULDERS. THE FACT THIS OCCURRED IS TERRIFYING, APPALLING AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
Lotus Exige s 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2015-07-19
- Date Complaint: 2015-08-20
- VIN: SCCWC11118H
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: RADIATOR COOLING FINS ARE METAL, BUT EACH SIDE HAS A RECTANGULAR PLASTIC TUBING THAT ALLOWS WATER TO FLOW UP AND DOWN EACH SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. AT 16,200 MILES, THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE RADIATOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED, RESULTING IN A 6 INCH CRACK IN THE PLASTIC PORTION, SPRAYING RADIATOR FLUID ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD, UNEXPECTEDLY. (I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE CRACK, IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.) FROM REVIEWS OF THE LOTUSTALK.COM FORUM, IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS RADIATOR IS CRACKING IN A SIMILAR FASHION, REGULARLY AND AT LOW MILEAGE, REQUIRING OWNERS TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR (MY COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,700 IN PARTS AND LABOR). SEVERAL OWNERS ARE NOTED TO BE REPLACING THE PLASTIC RADIATOR WITH AN ALL METAL UNIT, AT THEIR COST, PRIOR TO ANY FAILURES, FOR FEAR OF THE PLASTIC RADIATOR CRACKING ON THEM, AS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY OTHERS. I CONTACTED LOTUS TO SEEK ASSISTANCE WITH THE PARTS AND/OR LABOR AND DESPITE DOCUMENTING THE FREQUENCY THAT THIS IS OCCURRING, THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE, ONLY NOTING THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE 3 YEAR / 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. RADIATORS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL AT 16,000 MILES - THE OEM PART IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND LOTUS SHOULD MAKE THEM RIGHT; OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1,700 TO HAVE A RADIATOR THAT WILL LAST BEYOND 16,000 MILES.
Lotus Exige s 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2012-07-24
- Date Complaint: 2012-09-19
- VIN: SCCVC11107H
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: HAVE A LEAK AROUND OIL COOLER. I'M AFRAID IF OIL GETS ON TO EXHAUST IT COULD START A FIRE OR IF IT GETS ON THE TIRES CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE 2005 AND 2006 HAVE ALREADY BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND A RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED BUT APPARENTLY DOES NOT INCLUDE MY 2007 MODEL. *TR
Lotus Exige s 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2012-05-23
- Date Complaint: 2012-05-24
- VIN: SCCVC11137H
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH WHEN THE DEFROST FAN FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,400.
Lotus Exige s 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2012-04-23
- Date Complaint: 2012-05-02
- Fire: 1
- VIN: SCCVC11187H
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: THE OIL LINE LEADING TO THE FRONT OIL COOLER FAILED AT THE ENGINE SIDE, WHERE THE HOSE MEETS THE CONNECTOR. THIS CAUSED THE OIL TO LEAK ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY AND EXHAUST. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND THERE'S ALREADY A RECALL FOR 05&06 CARS, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS FOR 07 CARS AS WELL. THE OIL LEAK CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY IN MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE IN TIME, BUT HAD I NOT HAD THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS. THE REPAIR COST FOR THE OIL LINE SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY LOTUS. *JS
Lotus Exige s 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2011-11-18
- Date Complaint: 2011-12-10
- Fire: 1
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED SOME SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE BAY, AND THERE WAS OIL DRIPPING DOWN FROM THE UNDER PANELS. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOTUS CERTIFIED SHOP, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE OIL SANDWICH PLATE THAT CONNECTS TO THE FRONT OIL COOLER BROKE, ALLOWING THE OIL TO SPRAY OUT ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY AND UNDER PANEL. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO QUARTS OF OIL LOST, AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THE OIL DID NOT GET ON THE TIRES AS IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC CRASH.THE SHOP SAID THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL LOTUS CARS - EXIGE AND ELISE THAT CAME INTO THE SHOP WITH IDENTICAL ISSUES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS BEING LOGGED ON LOTUS SPECIFIC FORUMS AS WELL. *TR
Lotus Exige s 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2011-07-29
- Date Complaint: 2011-07-29
- VIN: SCCVC111X7H
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S. MY VEHICLE HAS A LEAK IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OIL COOLER. MY ID ON LOTUSTALK.COM IS [XXX] : I HAVE A THREAD WITH PICTURES LOCATED THERE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Lotus Exige s 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2010-11-30
- Date Complaint: 2010-12-01
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE NOTICED THAT THE OIL LINES COMING FROM THE OIL COOLER WERE VERY LOOSE. HE WAS FEARFUL THAT THE OIL LINES WOULD POSSIBLY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/11/11*LJ
Recalls Lotus Exige s
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the Lotus Exige s.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Lotus Exige s 2007
- Report Received Date: 2011-10-14
- Manufacturer: LOTUS CARS LTD
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: A DETACHED OIL LINE COULD SPRAY OIL ON A TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, OR IT COULD SPRAY OIL THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
- 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.
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