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SA52 TFO

2002 Lotus Elise

Grey Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Aug 2027
Tests28 (22 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate78.6%

Mileage

56,185 mi
Last recorded56,185 miles
Recorded on12 Aug 2026
Typical for 2002 Lotus Elise36,462 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationSA52 TFO
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2002
ColourGrey
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

22 pass 6 fail
Pass 12 Aug 2026 56,185 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2025 55,893 miles

Front Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened BOTH FRONT UPRIGHTS SURFACE CORROSION (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Jan 2024 55,630 miles

Offside None standard seatbelt/harness fitted at time of test.

Fail 5 Jan 2024 55,629 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Brake hose excessively chafed (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside None standard seatbelt/harness fitted at time of test.

Pass 19 Dec 2022 55,279 miles
Pass 31 Dec 2021 54,820 miles

Offside Front Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Fail 6 Dec 2021 54,812 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))

Offside Front Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Pass 12 Nov 2020 53,567 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2019 52,940 miles
Pass 2 May 2019 51,542 miles
Fail 2 May 2019 51,542 miles

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

Pass 4 May 2018 46,678 miles
Fail 3 May 2018 46,678 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 6 May 2017 45,628 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2016 45,435 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2014 45,093 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2014 42,177 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2013 35,971 miles

Both front tyres worn on inner edges.

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

Pass 23 Mar 2012 28,217 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2011 23,695 miles

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

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

Fail 25 Mar 2011 23,652 miles

Offside Brake cable has wires broken and is significantly weakened (3.5.1b)

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

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

Pass 6 Jan 2010 21,174 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2009 21,030 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 27 Aug 2008 20,169 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2007 18,898 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2006 11,908 miles
Pass 4 Oct 2005 9,868 miles
Fail 4 Oct 2005 9,868 miles

Rear Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e)

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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SA52 TFO is a 2002 Lotus Elise in Grey with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 78.6%.

Across all 2002 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.9% with a typical mileage of 36,462 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 SA52 TFO, 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 24 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 SA52 TFO?

You can check the full history of SA52 TFO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SA52 TFO registered?

SA52 TFO is a 2002 Lotus Elise, first registered on 1 October 2002.

Is SA52 TFO safe to buy?

The MOT history for SA52 TFO shows 28 tests with a 78.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SA52 TFO 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 SA52 TFO. 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.