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P53 OAH

1996 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Dec 2026
Tests17 (11 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate64.7%

Mileage

69,106 mi
Last recorded69,106 miles
Recorded on5 Dec 2025
Typical for 1996 Lotus Esprit48,465 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP53 OAH
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1996
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

11 pass 6 fail
Pass 5 Dec 2025 69,106 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Sep 2021 68,713 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 11 Aug 2021 68,623 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Battery insecure and likely to fall from carrier (4.13 (a) (ii))

Emissions not tested due to excessive smoke (8.2.1.2 (d))

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement inner bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement outer bush perished (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 1 Jun 2019 68,347 miles
Fail 14 May 2019 68,320 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both chassis (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 19 Jul 2013 68,082 miles

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

Pass 20 Jul 2012 67,342 miles

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

Pass 19 Jul 2011 66,511 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2010 65,264 miles
Pass 19 Jun 2009 64,161 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 12 Jun 2009 64,151 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle (7.3.A.2b)

Exhaust emits excessive dense blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 15 Apr 2008 62,005 miles
Pass 7 Sep 2007 61,366 miles
Fail 7 Sep 2007 61,365 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Fail 8 May 2007 61,217 miles

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3)

Pass 21 Feb 2006 56,219 miles

Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

power steering pipes corroded

Fail 8 Feb 2006 56,209 miles

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)

Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp insecure (1.1.C.1c)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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

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

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

nearside mirror insecure

power steering pipes corroded

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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P53 OAH is a 1996 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.7%.

Across all 1996 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.8% with a typical mileage of 48,465 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 P53 OAH, 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 30 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 P53 OAH?

You can check the full history of P53 OAH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P53 OAH registered?

P53 OAH is a 1996 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 8 August 1996.

Is P53 OAH safe to buy?

The MOT history for P53 OAH shows 17 tests with a 64.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P53 OAH 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 P53 OAH. 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.