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DK53 ULA

2003 Lotus Elise

Yellow Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 Jun 2027
Tests18 (15 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

40,553 mi
Last recorded40,553 miles
Recorded on13 Jun 2026
Typical for 2003 Lotus Elise33,657 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationDK53 ULA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2003
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

15 pass 3 fail
Pass 13 Jun 2026 40,553 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2025 40,424 miles
Pass 12 Nov 2020 40,366 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 28 May 2019 39,875 miles

Nearside Rear Strong advisory! Tyre on the legal limit of 1.6mm

Offside Rear Strong advisory! Tyre on the legal limit of 1.6mm

Pass 30 May 2018 38,700 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 4 Jul 2016 38,099 miles

both front anti roll bar links slight play

steering knocking

Fail 4 Jul 2016 38,098 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

both front anti roll bar links slight play

steering knocking

Pass 6 May 2015 35,895 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2014 27,753 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2014 27,753 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front brake caliper locking device missing (3.5.1l)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 15 Apr 2013 25,390 miles
Pass 18 Nov 2011 23,387 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2010 23,234 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2009 22,851 miles

Nail in nearside front tyre

Pass 5 Dec 2008 19,896 miles

All brake discs getting rusty on inner faces

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Rear brake pads getting low

Pass 7 Dec 2007 17,324 miles
Fail 3 Dec 2007 17,292 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 16 Apr 2007 13,735 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elise?

Based on 150,954 MOT tests across 12,302 vehicles.

81.8%
Pass Rate
1,309
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
12,302
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 3,173
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,131
Headlamp aim too high 3,014
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2,630
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 1,898
Full Lotus Elise reliability report

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DK53 ULA is a 2003 Lotus Elise in Yellow with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 2003 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.4% with a typical mileage of 33,657 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Lotus Elise fails its MOT is exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, accounting for 3,173 recorded failures. If you're considering buying DK53 ULA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elise typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 23 years old, this Lotus Elise is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of DK53 ULA?

You can check the full history of DK53 ULA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was DK53 ULA registered?

DK53 ULA is a 2003 Lotus Elise, first registered on 16 September 2003.

Is DK53 ULA safe to buy?

The MOT history for DK53 ULA shows 18 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does DK53 ULA have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on DK53 ULA. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.