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RK53 CYW

2003 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Feb 2027
Tests26 (20 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

78,598 mi
Last recorded78,598 miles
Recorded on17 Feb 2026
Typical for 2003 Lotus Elise33,657 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationRK53 CYW
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2003
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 6 fail
Pass 17 Feb 2026 78,598 miles

Offside Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt hole in boot. (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 5 Sep 2024 78,256 miles
Fail 5 Sep 2024 78,256 miles

Nearside Rear Position lamp with a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 19 Jun 2023 78,043 miles

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

Fail 1 Jun 2023 78,043 miles

Offside Rear Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

Fail 27 Oct 2022 77,993 miles

Offside Rear Suspension rod ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 21 Oct 2021 77,577 miles

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both rears (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 26 Oct 2020 76,637 miles
Pass 21 Oct 2019 74,596 miles

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

Pass 29 Oct 2018 67,652 miles
Pass 25 Jan 2018 66,657 miles
Pass 25 Jan 2017 65,217 miles
Fail 25 Jan 2017 65,217 miles

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

Pass 21 Jan 2016 64,532 miles

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded Front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 21 Jan 2016 64,532 miles

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded Front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 20 Jan 2015 60,611 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2014 55,955 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2013 54,843 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

Pass 15 Nov 2012 54,748 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2011 49,283 miles

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

n/side front wheel bearing slightly rough when rotated

rear brake discs corroded and pitted

Pass 10 Nov 2010 40,189 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2010 40,189 miles

Front registration plate with character(s) which are not of equal width along their entire length (6.3.4a)

Pass 3 Dec 2009 28,946 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2008 20,130 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2007 17,220 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2006 13,929 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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RK53 CYW is a 2003 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

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 RK53 CYW, 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 RK53 CYW?

You can check the full history of RK53 CYW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RK53 CYW registered?

RK53 CYW is a 2003 Lotus Elise, first registered on 26 November 2003.

Is RK53 CYW safe to buy?

The MOT history for RK53 CYW shows 26 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does RK53 CYW 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 RK53 CYW. 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.