VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Lotus Evora20112022

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

TOP PICK
2021
Buyer Score 96/100
12
Years Analyzed
7
Total Recalls
13
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries

Best Years to Buy a Lotus Evora

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK5yr old
2021
Strong Buy · 96/100
Reliability100/100
Value window88/100
Recalls0
Complaints0
#2 PICK6yr old
2020
Strong Buy · 94/100
Reliability100/100
Value window84/100
Recalls0
Complaints0
#3 PICK4yr old
2022
Strong Buy · 94/100
Reliability100/100
Value window82/100
Recalls0
Complaints0

Lotus Evora Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2011

3 recalls · 1 complaint

Top issue: SUSPENSION

#2 WORST
2018

2 recalls · 1 complaint

Top issue: SUSPENSION

#3 WORST
2013

1 recall · 3 complaints

Top issue: SUSPENSION

Lotus Evora — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202200
100
82
94
Excellent
202100
100
88
96
Excellent
202000
100
84
94
Excellent
201900
100
74
91
Excellent
201821
89
62
80
Avoid
201713
92
50
77
Caution
201600
100
40
79
Excellent
201500
100
40
79
Excellent
201403
97
40
77
Good
201313
92
40
74
Caution
201202
98
40
78
Good
201131
84
40
69
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Lotus Evora Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

SUSPENSION
6
ENGINE
3
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
1
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
1
STEERING,ENGINE
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
1

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Evora compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 96).

Best: 2021

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2015 (Buyer Score 79).

Best: 2015

Pre-2013

Older Evora models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Evora to buy?+

The 2021 Lotus Evora scores highest on our Buyer Score (96/100) — combining a reliability score of 100/100 with a value score of 88/100. It has 0 recalls and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Evora years have the most problems?+

The 2011, 2018, 2013 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2011 Evora leads with 3 recalls and 1 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Evora problems?+

The most frequently reported Lotus Evora issues involve: SUSPENSION, ENGINE, STEERING,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE, POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →