1997 Lotus Esprit — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

87.0%

Latest Pass Rate

713

Total Tests (All Years)

47,731 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Lotus Esprit as it ages.

12 yrs74.2%

→ ↑4.1%

13 yrs78.3%

→ ↑3.3%

14 yrs81.6%

→ ↓2.4%

15 yrs79.2%

→ ↑7.6%

16 yrs86.8%

→ ↓16.2%

17 yrs70.6%

→ ↑10.7%

18 yrs81.3%

→ ↓11.1%

19 yrs70.2%

→ ↑9.0%

20 yrs79.2%

→ ↓3.4%

21 yrs75.8%

→ ↑11.7%

23 yrs87.5%

→ ↓3.1%

24 yrs84.4%

→ ↓10.1%

25 yrs74.3%

→ ↑16.3%

26 yrs90.6%

→ ↓3.6%

27 yrs87.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	74.2%	62
13 yrs	78.3%	46
14 yrs	81.6%	49
15 yrs	79.2%	53
16 yrs	86.8%	53
17 yrs	70.6%	51
18 yrs	81.3%	48
19 yrs	70.2%	47
20 yrs	79.2%	48
21 yrs	75.8%	33
23 yrs	87.5%	32
24 yrs	84.4%	32
25 yrs	74.3%	35
26 yrs	90.6%	32
27 yrs	87.0%	92

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Lotus Esprit pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	87%	92
2023 (26 yrs)	90.6%	32
2022 (25 yrs)	74.3%	35
2021 (24 yrs)	84.4%	32
2020 (23 yrs)	87.5%	32
2018 (21 yrs)	75.8%	33
2017 (20 yrs)	79.2%	48
2016 (19 yrs)	70.2%	47
2015 (18 yrs)	81.3%	48
2014 (17 yrs)	70.6%	51
2013 (16 yrs)	86.8%	53
2012 (15 yrs)	79.2%	53
2011 (14 yrs)	81.6%	49
2010 (13 yrs)	78.3%	46
2009 (12 yrs)	74.2%	62

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

74.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 62Avg Mileage 44,815Top Failure Brakes — 11.3%

2010

78.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 46Avg Mileage 43,925Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 8.7%

2011

81.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 49Avg Mileage 51,621Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.2%

2012

79.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 53Avg Mileage 47,198Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.2%

2013

86.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 53Avg Mileage 47,010Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.9%

2014

70.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 51Avg Mileage 53,299Top Failure Brakes — 39.2%

2015

81.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 48Avg Mileage 48,257Top Failure Brakes — 31.3%

2016

70.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 47Avg Mileage 51,770Top Failure Brakes — 34.0%

2017

79.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 48Avg Mileage 53,847Top Failure Brakes — 29.2%

2018

75.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 33Avg Mileage 51,982Top Failure Brakes — 48.5%

2020

87.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 32Avg Mileage 52,040Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 12.5%

2021

84.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 32Avg Mileage 54,902Top Failure Brakes — 46.9%

2022

74.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 35Avg Mileage 57,162Top Failure Brakes — 65.7%

2023

90.6%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 32Avg Mileage 56,266Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 9.4%

2024

87.0%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 92Avg Mileage 47,731Top Failure Brakes — 21.7%

MOT results for 1997 Lotus Esprit by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	74.2%	62	44,815	Brakes — 11.3%
2010	13	78.3%	46	43,925	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 8.7%
2011	14	81.6%	49	51,621	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.2%
2012	15	79.2%	53	47,198	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.2%
2013	16	86.8%	53	47,010	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.9%
2014	17	70.6%	51	53,299	Brakes — 39.2%
2015	18	81.3%	48	48,257	Brakes — 31.3%
2016	19	70.2%	47	51,770	Brakes — 34.0%
2017	20	79.2%	48	53,847	Brakes — 29.2%
2018	21	75.8%	33	51,982	Brakes — 48.5%
2020	23	87.5%	32	52,040	Noise, emissions and leaks — 12.5%
2021	24	84.4%	32	54,902	Brakes — 46.9%
2022	25	74.3%	35	57,162	Brakes — 65.7%
2023	26	90.6%	32	56,266	Noise, emissions and leaks — 9.4%
2024	27	87.0%	92	47,731	Brakes — 21.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Lotus Esprit, with age trends.

Brakes

24.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

16.6%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

13.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

12.1%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

10.9%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	11.3% (12 yrs)	21.7% (27 yrs)	+10.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	8.1% (12 yrs)	4.3% (27 yrs)	-3.8%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	9.7% (12 yrs)	8.7% (27 yrs)	-1.0%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Lotus Esprit page →

About This Data

This page shows how Lotus Esprit cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 713 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.