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R74 TRA

1998 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Nov 2026
Tests36 (20 pass, 16 fail)
Pass rate55.6%

Mileage

88,070 mi
Last recorded88,070 miles
Recorded on28 Nov 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR74 TRA
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourBlue
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

20 pass 16 fail
Pass 28 Nov 2025 88,070 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 25 Nov 2025 88,062 miles

Nearside Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 28 Nov 2024 87,965 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 27 Nov 2024 87,964 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 2 Nov 2024 87,940 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Inner Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Central Stop lamp(s) with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning hi-level (4.3.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 22 Nov 2023 87,878 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 10 Nov 2022 87,846 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 9 Nov 2022 87,846 miles

Dipswitch operation does not extinguish all main beam headlamps leaving at least one pair of dipped beam headlamps (4.1.3 (b))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 16 Nov 2021 87,749 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear X 2 (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 16 Nov 2021 87,749 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear X 2 (1.1.11 (c))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Nov 2020 87,595 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both front to rears (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 10 Nov 2020 87,595 miles

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

Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.1.1 (b))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both front to rears (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 22 May 2019 86,688 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rears slightly corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 17 May 2019 86,640 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rears slightly corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 5 May 2018 85,506 miles

Offside Front front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Fail 1 May 2018 85,501 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Offside Front front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Pass 16 May 2017 84,459 miles
Fail 15 May 2017 84,459 miles

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

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

Position lamp switch does not illuminate the front and rear position lamps with a single operation (1.1.A.2)

Rear rear parking (secondary) brakes imbalanced (3.7.B.6b)

Brake pipe slightly corroded both front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% hi level (1.2.1b)

Pass 18 May 2016 83,330 miles
Fail 10 May 2016 83,330 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded spring platform (2.4.A.3)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is fractured spring platform (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

offside front brake grabbing slightly

Pass 13 May 2015 81,739 miles

BOTH front to rear brake pipes corroded

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 13 May 2015 81,739 miles

BOTH front to rear brake pipes corroded

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 16 Jun 2014 80,686 miles

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 5 Jun 2014 80,686 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 5 Jun 2013 77,910 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2013 77,910 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Pass 8 Jun 2012 767,833 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2012 76,783 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

engine overheating,cooling fan not working.

Pass 7 Jun 2011 75,613 miles
Fail 7 Jun 2011 75,613 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Pass 4 Jun 2010 73,983 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2010 73,977 miles

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Offside Steering pivot point has excessive play (2.2.B.1g)

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

Position lamp switch faulty (1.1.A.1)

Pass 1 Apr 2009 71,990 miles

Offside Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Pass 20 Mar 2008 68,234 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2007 62,988 miles

offside steering arm (track rod) has wear in joint

Pass 22 Mar 2006 57,754 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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R74 TRA is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 36 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.6%.

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 R74 TRA, 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 R74 TRA?

You can check the full history of R74 TRA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R74 TRA registered?

R74 TRA is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 24 February 1998.

Is R74 TRA safe to buy?

The MOT history for R74 TRA shows 36 tests with a 55.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R74 TRA 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 R74 TRA. 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.