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1990 ST

1999 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Nov 2026
Tests31 (19 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate61.3%

Mileage

89,843 mi
Last recorded89,843 miles
Recorded on7 Nov 2025
Typical for 1999 Lotus Esprit45,289 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

Registration1990 ST
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1999
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,506cc

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

19 pass 12 fail
Pass 7 Nov 2025 89,843 miles
Pass 17 Oct 2024 87,197 miles

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

Pass 6 Nov 2023 85,365 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2022 83,110 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear pipes are corroded in a couple places and covered in grease (1.1.11 (c))

Front Coil spring corroded both nearside and offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing both nearside and offside shock casing and platforms are corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on axle (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on axle (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on axle (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Coil spring corroded both nearside and offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing both nearside and offside shock casing and platforms are corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 8 Nov 2022 83,102 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 manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel on foot brake (1.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear pipes are corroded in a couple places and covered in grease (1.1.11 (c))

Front Coil spring corroded both nearside and offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing both nearside and offside shock casing and platforms are corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on axle (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on axle (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Oil leak, but not excessive gearbox oil seal (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material on axle (1.1.11 (c))

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

Rear Coil spring corroded both nearside and offside (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing both nearside and offside shock casing and platforms are corroded (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 22 Sep 2022 83,098 miles

Emissions not tested Right exhaust due to both emitting excessive amounts of smoke (8.2.1.2 (d))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits Left exhaust (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle Both exhausts (8.2.1.2 (f))

Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration Both exhausts (8.2.1.2 (g))

Service brake excessively fluctuating Both front (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material At brake calliper (1.1.11 (c))

Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both front lower (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both rear tyres across inner parts of tread pattern (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 6 Oct 2021 80,572 miles
Pass 8 Oct 2020 77,399 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2020 77,396 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 hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Side repeater likely to become detached (4.4.1 (c) (ii))

Fail 17 Mar 2020 77,388 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 manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement bushes in both suspension arms (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 29 Feb 2020 77,348 miles

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

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 5 Mar 2019 75,313 miles
Fail 2 Mar 2019 75,311 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Front Inner Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 7 Dec 2017 73,631 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

advice near side turbo broken

Pass 10 Nov 2016 68,550 miles
Fail 10 Nov 2016 68,550 miles

registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced Front & Rear (6.3.4a)

Pass 10 Dec 2015 64,848 miles

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 3 Dec 2015 64,843 miles

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

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 6 Nov 2015 64,800 miles

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

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

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

Pass 14 Nov 2014 60,915 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2013 60,253 miles
Fail 30 Jul 2013 60,253 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 21 Dec 2012 59,002 miles
Fail 21 Dec 2012 59,002 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 3 Jan 2012 56,889 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2011 54,443 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2010 53,290 miles
Fail 29 Jan 2010 53,290 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

advise o/s/f tyre worn on the inside edge

Pass 1 Jul 2008 49,928 miles
Pass 25 Jul 2007 46,731 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2006 43,469 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
Full Lotus Esprit reliability report

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1990 ST is a 1999 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 31 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.3%.

Across all 1999 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.8% with a typical mileage of 45,289 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 Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying 1990 ST, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 27 years old, this Lotus Esprit is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 1990 ST?

You can check the full history of 1990 ST by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 1990 ST registered?

1990 ST is a 1999 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 12 July 1999.

Is 1990 ST safe to buy?

The MOT history for 1990 ST shows 31 tests with a 61.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 1990 ST 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 1990 ST. 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.