Lotus Elise (2004)
2004 Lotus Elise
CarHunch analysed 621 real MOT records for the 2004 Lotus Elise. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Lotus Elise passes MOT at 85.1%, a solid 5 percentage points above the UK average, suggesting these lightweight sports cars are generally well-maintained by their owners. Dangerous defects appear in just 10.3% of vehicles tested, which is reassuringly low and well below concern level for a 20-year-old car.
At 30,824 miles median, these Elises have been driven sparingly—typical for a second-hand sports car treated as a weekend toy rather than daily transport. Most vehicles rack up an average of 2 failures and 8.4 advisories per test, so if you're buying one, expect minor wear items and consumables to need attention, but budget for a full pre-purchase inspection to check suspension and brake components, which are common advisory triggers on older Lotuses.
What to check before buying a 2004 Lotus Elise
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Lotus Elise
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 620 | 85.1% | 2 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 Lotus Elise vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2004 Lotus Elise vehicles fall between 19,714 and 44,269 miles.
2004 Lotus Elise — Still on the Road
236 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 70% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2004 Lotus Elise
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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48%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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44.5%
Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
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43.6%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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24.1%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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23.4%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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20.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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20.3%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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14.3%
Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Lotus Elise?
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