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R391 JTM

1998 Lotus Elise

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires20 Jan 2026
Tests25 (16 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate64%

Mileage

74,696 mi
Last recorded74,696 miles
Recorded on21 Jan 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR391 JTM
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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

16 pass 9 fail
Pass 21 Jan 2025 74,696 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2022 74,676 miles

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 23 Jul 2021 74,414 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2020 74,119 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2019 73,868 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2016 72,593 miles
Pass 3 Apr 2015 71,632 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2015 71,632 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

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

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 28 May 2014 67,780 miles

Slight play in N/S/F Wheel bearing.

Fail 19 May 2014 67,762 miles

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

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

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Slight play in N/S/F Wheel bearing.

Pass 3 May 2013 62,850 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2013 62,823 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Nearside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 15 May 2012 59,869 miles
Fail 11 May 2012 59,782 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Pass 10 May 2011 53,333 miles

Both rear tyres worn to approx. 3mm

Fail 10 May 2011 53,333 miles

Both rear tyres worn to approx. 3mm

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 4 Jun 2010 50,440 miles

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

Pass 20 Jan 2009 45,348 miles
Fail 20 Jan 2009 45,348 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 17 Jan 2008 39,815 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2007 38,271 miles
Fail 6 Aug 2007 38,265 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 15 Aug 2006 37,714 miles
Fail 15 Aug 2006 37,712 miles

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

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Fail 3 Aug 2005 31,793 miles

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

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

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

nearside rear C.V.boot split

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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R391 JTM is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.8% with a typical mileage of 48,523 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 R391 JTM, 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 28 years old, this Lotus Elise is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R391 JTM?

You can check the full history of R391 JTM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R391 JTM registered?

R391 JTM is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 11 June 1998.

Is R391 JTM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R391 JTM shows 25 tests with a 64% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R391 JTM 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 R391 JTM. 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.