AI Damage2007 Lotus Exige S: common problems
Owners of the 2007 Lotus Exige S filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 43% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 29% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 29% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 14% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Visibility: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On november 15, 2015 my 2007 lotus exige s experienced oil cooler line failure. I was taking turn 8 at thunderhill raceway at 95 mph when the oil cooler transfer hose at the front of the car detached and dumped oil onto my passenger side tires and all along the side of my vehicle.
I'm afraid if oil gets on to exhaust it could start a fire or if it gets on the tires cause an accident. The 2005 and 2006 have already been investigated for this problem and a recall has been ordered but apparently does not include my 2007 model.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 lotus exige s. The contact was traveling between 35-40 mph when the defrost fan failed to work properly. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 12,400.
The oil leak caused a small fire in the engine bay in my car. I was able to put out the fire in time, but had I not had the right equipment, it would have been a total loss. The repair cost for the oil line should be paid for by lotus.
I was driving when I noticed some smoke emanating from the rear of the car. When I pulled over, I noticed that the car was smoking from the engine bay, and there was oil dripping down from the under panels.
I currently have a 2007 lotus exige s. My vehicle has a leak in the driver's side oil cooler. My id on lotustalk.com is [xxx] : I have a thread with pictures located there. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl contact owns a 2007 lotus exige s. While the vehicle was parked he noticed that the oil lines coming from the oil cooler were very loose. He was fearful that the oil lines would possibly fracture while driving. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing nor was it repaired.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Exige S has 4 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Lotus Exige S?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, engine, powertrain. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (43%), oil leak or consumption (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2007 Lotus Exige S?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2007 Lotus Exige S from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2007 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.