At a Glance
The Lotus Elan M100 has 16 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Brake performance below minimum being the most reported. Brakes is the most common MOT failure category. The most serious issue flagged is Parking brake performance below minimum, rated as dangerous. Based on 25K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Lotus Elan M100 — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Lotus Elan M100 MOT Pass Rate
Across 25K MOT tests from DVSA data, the Lotus Elan M100 (1989–1995) has a fail rate of 33.2%.
All-time UK average fail rate: 34.9%
Common Lotus Elan M100 Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Brake performance below minimum
4,719
occurrences
Headlamp defect (aim check required on retest)
798
occurrences
Parking brake performance below minimum
788
occurrences
Exhaust emissions above threshold (non-catalyst)
722
occurrences
Spark ignition emissions above threshold
605
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Lotus Elan M100 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Lotus Elan M100 owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Lotus Elan M100, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
307 distinct problems · 45,265 total occurrences in current filter
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Other Lotus Elan Generations
Original
1962–1975
4 problems
M100
1989–1995
21 problems
Current page
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Lotus Elan M100 problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Lotus Elan M100 (1989–1995), we have identified 16 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Brake performance below minimum". Brakes is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Lotus Elan M100?
This generation has 25K MOT tests on record with a 33.2% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Lotus Elan M100?
There are 132 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the M100 (1989–1995), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Lotus Elan M100?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Lotus Elan owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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