Lotus Esprit common problems and MOT failures
What goes wrong on a used Lotus Esprit, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 655 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.
The 1983 Lotus Esprit
Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Lotus Esprit as a whole.
What to check on a 1983 car
- Rust and structure
Look underneath at the sills, floor, chassis rails and jacking points. Rust in the structure costs far more to fix than paint bubbles.
- MOT-exempt isn’t roadworthy
Cars over 40 don’t need an MOT, but they must still be safe. A voluntary MOT or a specialist inspection is worth the money.
- Paperwork
Old MOT certificates, bills and restoration photos show how it has been looked after. Check the logbook matches the car’s VIN and engine number.
- Originality
Changes from standard affect value and insurance. Ask what has been replaced or modified.
- Insurance
Classic insurance is often cheaper but may limit mileage and use. Get a quote before you buy.
Other years
Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).
2003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988198719861985198419831982198119801979197819771976
What usually goes wrong with a Lotus Esprit?
We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Lotus Esprit in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.
Lotus Esprit MOT pass rate by year
Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.
Looking at a Lotus Esprit?
Check the actual car: its own MOT history and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score