The Verdict
Worst problem area
No complaints reported
No complaints have been filed with NHTSA for this model-year.
Complaints filed fell from 1 in 2009 to 0 in 2010.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 0
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $3,350–$3,500
- Combined MPG
- 22–23
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | vs. 2010 Two Seaters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–2,850 | 3,350–3,500 | 3,350–3,500 | 3,350–3,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–23 | 22–23 | 22–23 | 22–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–21 / 26–27 | 20–21 / 26–27 | 20–21 / 26–27 | 20–21 / 26–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–404 | 386–404 | 386–404 | 386–404 | |
| Complaints filed | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2010 Lotus Elise/exige have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Lotus Elise/exige get?
EPA rates it 22–23 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Lotus Elise/exige?
EPA estimates $3,350–$3,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
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EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 21 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Two Seaters | 20 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $3,500 (high) | 404 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls (1)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
- Defect
- Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its fitting.
- Consequence
- A detached oil hose 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 replace the oil cooler hose fittings on the Elise and Exige vehicles and will replace the oil cooler hose assemblies on the Evora vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887. Lotus' number for this recall is 201401R (Elise/Exige), and 2014/02R (Evora). Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 11V-510 and 13V-041.