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J185 SSF

1992 Lotus Elan

Blue Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jul 2027
Tests19 (14 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate73.7%

Mileage

74,454 mi
Last recorded74,454 miles
Recorded on2 Jul 2026
Typical for 1992 Lotus Elan76,086 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationJ185 SSF
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1992
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

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

14 pass 5 fail
Pass 2 Jul 2026 74,454 miles
Fail 25 Jun 2026 74,439 miles

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

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 10 Jun 2025 74,035 miles

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 24 Jun 2024 73,508 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2019 72,923 miles
Fail 14 May 2018 72,875 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases blowing on all joints (7.1.2)

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle 39% (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 9 May 2016 71,903 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2015 71,083 miles

Oil leak

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Pass 12 Apr 2014 70,856 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2014 70,553 miles

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

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 6 Apr 2013 69,815 miles
Fail 26 Sep 2012 69,796 miles

Nearside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1) DANGEROUS

Pass 28 Sep 2011 69,318 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2010 68,475 miles
Fail 17 Sep 2009 67,868 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Offside Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 17 Sep 2009 67,868 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Offside Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Pass 26 Sep 2008 67,192 miles

slight knock in steering rack

Pass 28 Jun 2007 65,992 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2006 63,386 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan reliability report

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J185 SSF is a 1992 Lotus Elan in Blue with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.7%.

Across all 1992 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 76,086 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J185 SSF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 34 years old, this Lotus Elan is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J185 SSF?

You can check the full history of J185 SSF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J185 SSF registered?

J185 SSF is a 1992 Lotus Elan, first registered on 1 February 1992.

Is J185 SSF safe to buy?

The MOT history for J185 SSF shows 19 tests with a 73.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J185 SSF 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 J185 SSF. 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.