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J421 LPO

1992 Lotus Elan

Black Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Jan 2027
Tests29 (17 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate58.6%

Mileage

134,340 mi
Last recorded134,340 miles
Recorded on26 Jan 2026
Typical for 1992 Lotus Elan76,086 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ421 LPO
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1992
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

All premium checks include

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

17 pass 12 fail
Pass 26 Jan 2026 134,340 miles

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 23 Jan 2026 134,338 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded to brake hose (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 21 Jun 2024 133,223 miles
Fail 20 Jun 2024 133,223 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Fail 30 May 2024 132,727 miles

Exhaust emissions - engine idle speed too high (8.2.1.2 (e))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 13 Jun 2023 131,492 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 9 Jun 2023 131,492 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively damaged (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.2.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 23 May 2022 131,470 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2021 131,257 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2020 131,151 miles

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

Offside Front power steering pipe slightly corroded

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

engine oil sump slightly damaged

Fail 13 Mar 2020 131,151 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Offside Front power steering pipe slightly corroded

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

engine oil sump slightly damaged

Pass 19 Mar 2019 126,373 miles

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

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 19 Mar 2019 126,373 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust emits visible black smoke at idle (8.2.1.2 (f))

Offside Headlamp are incorrectly positioned (4.1.4 (a))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 15 Mar 2019 126,286 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake lever has restricted free movement handbrake arm on caliper (1.1.15 (e))

Nearside Rear Hydraulic brake calliper leaking (1.1.16 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Headlamp aim not tested lamp fails to pop up when operated (4.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Brake lever has restricted free movement handbrake arm on caliper (1.1.15 (e))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 30 Sep 2016 116,817 miles

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 29 Sep 2015 112,609 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Ball joint has slight play inner rack (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) slightly corroded (2.3.2)

Pass 14 May 2014 112,547 miles

o/s/f brake binding slightly

Fail 12 May 2014 112,547 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Rear Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Offside Rear Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

o/s/f brake binding slightly

Pass 30 Apr 2012 112,372 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

slight play in both rear wheel bearings

slight wear to offside front inner rack joints

Pass 15 Apr 2011 109,880 miles

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

offside front flexi hose connection damp

slight blow from exhaust front pipe

slight wear offside front inner steering rack joint

sump pan leaking oil

Pass 22 Apr 2010 109,253 miles

slight play in both rear wheel bearings

slight play in steering noted

Fail 21 Apr 2010 109,253 miles

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

slight play in both rear wheel bearings

slight play in steering noted

Pass 24 Feb 2009 107,594 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Oil leak

Fail 10 May 2008 107,263 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

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

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 14 Feb 2008 107,259 miles

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 4 Feb 2008 107,257 miles

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

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

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Offside Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

Nearside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 14 Dec 2006 104,865 miles

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

Nearside rear tyre small cut in wall.

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Pass 2 Nov 2005 98,018 miles
Fail 1 Nov 2005 98,018 miles

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

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

Rear Stop lamp excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.2.1d)

Cut to inner side wall of near side rear tyre.

Offside Outer Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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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J421 LPO is a 1992 Lotus Elan in Black with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 29 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.6%.

Across all 1992 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 76,086 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 J421 LPO, 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 34 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 J421 LPO?

You can check the full history of J421 LPO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J421 LPO registered?

J421 LPO is a 1992 Lotus Elan, first registered on 7 February 1992.

Is J421 LPO safe to buy?

The MOT history for J421 LPO shows 29 tests with a 58.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J421 LPO 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 J421 LPO. 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.