The Lotus Exige spans 2008–2012 with 4 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers up to 23 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Lotus Exige is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2008 to 2012 across multiple generations.
How to read a Lotus Exige VIN — every digit explained
Every Lotus Exige carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Lotus and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Exige.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Model-year code (10th digit)
The 10th character is the model year. It cycles through letters and numbers, skipping I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 to avoid confusion:
Where to find your Exige VIN
- Dashboard — driver's side, visible through the windshield from outside.
- Driver's door jamb — on the manufacturer sticker when you open the door.
- Paperwork — vehicle registration, title and insurance card.
- Engine bay & frame — stamped on the firewall or chassis on many models.
How many recalls does the Lotus Exige have?
The Lotus Exige has 4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2008–2012. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2011 Lotus Exige recalls 1
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
What's wrong. Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its fitting.
Risk. A detached oil hose could spray oil on a tire, increasing the risk of a crash, or it could spray oil throughout the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix. Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil cooler hose fittings on the Elise and Exige vehicles and will replace the oil cooler hose assemblies on the Evora vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887. Lotus' number for this recall is 201401R (Elise/Exige), and 2014/02R (Evora). Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 11V-510 and 13V-041.
2010 Lotus Exige recalls 1
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
What's wrong. Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its fitting.
Risk. A detached oil hose could spray oil on a tire, increasing the risk of a crash, or it could spray oil throughout the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix. Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil cooler hose fittings on the Elise and Exige vehicles and will replace the oil cooler hose assemblies on the Evora vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887. Lotus' number for this recall is 201401R (Elise/Exige), and 2014/02R (Evora). Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 11V-510 and 13V-041.
2008 Lotus Exige recalls 2
Engine And Engine Cooling
What's wrong. Lotus is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from December 1, 2006, through October 31, 2007. The oil cooler line may become detached from its fitting.
Risk. A detached oil line could spray oil on a tire, increasing the risk of a crash, or it could spray oil throughout the engine compartment increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix. Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil cooler hose fittings and the entire lateral oil cooler hose, free of charge. The safety recall began on March 4, 2013. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
What's wrong. Lotus Cars USA, Inc. (Lotus) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Elise and Exige vehicles manufactured from November 2007 to July 2011, and 2011 Evora vehicles manufactured September 2010 through September 2011. The oil cooler hose may detach from its fitting.
Risk. A detached oil hose could spray oil on a tire, increasing the risk of a crash, or it could spray oil throughout the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix. Lotus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil cooler hose fittings on the Elise and Exige vehicles and will replace the oil cooler hose assemblies on the Evora vehicles, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Lotus at 1-800-245-6887. Lotus' number for this recall is 201401R (Elise/Exige), and 2014/02R (Evora). Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 11V-510 and 13V-041.
Best and worst years for the Lotus Exige
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Lotus Exige — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Lotus Exige problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Lotus Exige — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Lotus Exige specifications & dimensions
The 2012 Lotus Exige. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Lotus Exige cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Exige holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 48 cu ft of passenger volume and 2 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Lotus Exige tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Lotus Exige get?
The Lotus Exige returns up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine. Pick an engine to see its city / highway / combined rating by year:
| Year | City | Highway | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Exige | 20 | 28 | 3.5L 6-cyl |
| Year | City | Highway | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Exige | 21 | 27 | 1.8L 4-cyl | |
| 2010 Exige | 21 | 27 | 1.8L 4-cyl | |
| 2011 Exige | 21 | 27 | 1.8L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov — best combined rating per engine & year. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
What engines does the Lotus Exige have? Power & range
The Lotus Exige is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.5L 6-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | RWD | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 1.8L · 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Lotus Exige cost to own?
A Lotus Exige depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Exige loses about 54% of its value over five years.
- Fuel — ≈ $16,750 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Exige ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Lotus Exige safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Exige yet.
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How many miles does a Lotus Exige last?
A well-maintained Lotus Exige typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Decode your Lotus Exige’s window sticker & build
Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Decode VIN →All Lotus Exige model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Lotus Exige — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Exige | 0 | — | |
| 2011 Exige | 1 recall | — | |
| 2010 Exige | 1 recall | — | |
| 2008 Exige | 2 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Exige?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Lotus Exige.
How many recalls does the Exige have?
4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2008–2012. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
What MPG does the Exige get?
Up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Exige last?
A well-maintained Exige typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Exige reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Exige is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Lotus Exige warranty?
New Lotus models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Lotus dealer.
Where is the Lotus Exige made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Exige's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Lotus may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Exige have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.