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J271 JPN

1991 Lotus Elan

Black Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Jul 2025
Tests21 (12 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate57.1%

Mileage

135,517 mi
Last recorded135,517 miles
Recorded on10 Jul 2024
Typical for 1991 Lotus Elan80,091 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ271 JPN
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1991
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc
View full Lotus Elan reliability data

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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

12 pass 9 fail
Pass 10 Jul 2024 135,517 miles
Fail 5 Jul 2024 135,499 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Brake pad(s) contaminated (1.1.13 (b))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 1 Jul 2024 135,491 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 17 May 2018 129,787 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 16 May 2017 129,779 miles

Braking system leaking front to rear brake pipe (3.6.A.1)

Emissions not tested overheating (7.3.A.1)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear line (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear line (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 14 May 2016 126,338 miles

Offside Front Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 28 Apr 2016 126,338 miles

Nearside Front Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Offside Front Outer Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Track rod (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively chafed (3.6.B.4d) DANGEROUS

Brake test not carried

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 10 Jul 2015
Fail 4 Jul 2015 125,921 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Pass 15 May 2014 124,163 miles

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 29 Apr 2014 124,150 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 19 Feb 2013 120,533 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2012 120,522 miles
Pass 28 Oct 2011 120,505 miles
Pass 4 Oct 2008 120,424 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2008 120,424 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 4 Oct 2007 120,488 miles
Fail 28 Sep 2007 120,482 miles

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 12 Sep 2006 119,619 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2006 119,518 miles
Fail 5 Jul 2006 119,518 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan reliability report

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J271 JPN is a 1991 Lotus Elan in Black with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.1%.

Across all 1991 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.1% with a typical mileage of 80,091 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 Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J271 JPN, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 35 years old, this Lotus Elan is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J271 JPN?

You can check the full history of J271 JPN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J271 JPN registered?

J271 JPN is a 1991 Lotus Elan, first registered on 18 November 1991.

Is J271 JPN safe to buy?

The MOT history for J271 JPN shows 21 tests with a 57.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J271 JPN 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 J271 JPN. 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.