NHTSA Complaint #10167681 — 2006 LOTUS EXIZE

THIS WAS AFTER ONLY ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP... I NOTICED AFTER A DETAIL ON MY CAR THAT THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAD SOME SCRATCHES ON IT. LOTUS ALREADY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEIR HEADLIGHT LENS CAUSING BURN MARKS ON THE BLACK INTERIOR BLACK HOUSING BECAUSE OF SUNLIGHT REFLECTING OFF AND BURNING THE HOUSING. LOTUS DID NOT DO A RECALL, BUT ADDED A FIX CALLED THE EMBELLISHER RING THAT BASICALLY JUST COVERS THE BURNED GOUGES A LITTLE IF IT WASN'T TOO BAD AND PREVENTS THE SUNLIGHT TO REFLECT AS MUCH. I HAVE DONE MY OWN INVESTIGATION AND KNOW OF AT LEAST 37 CASES NOT INCLUDED EVERY SINGLE NEW CAR ON THE LOCAL LOTUS DEALERSHIPS LOT INCLUDING ELISE/EXIZES. THE SCRATCHES WERE UNIQUE TO EACH CAR. I HAVE PICTURES OF MY CAR AND EVERY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP, BRAND NEW WITH THIS FACTORY DEFECT. DEALERSHIP, AFTER BEING DENIED BY LOTUS TO REPLACE THEM, OFFERED TO SWITCH MINE OUT WITH ANOTHER CAR ON THE LOT. THIS IS HOW I ENDED UP FINDING THE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN AN EXIZE STRAIGHT OFF THE DELIVERY TRUCK. I CONTACTED LOTUS MYSELF AND THEY CALLED ME BACK. THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS, WELL, THEIR REASONING WAS... THEY'RE JUST NOT THAT GOOD OF QUALITY... WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? SO I HAVE BEEN DENIED REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS THAT DON'T HAVE COSMETIC DEFECTS FROM THE FACTORY, AND I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE FUTURE OWNERS OF THE CARS ON THAT DEALERSHIPS LOT. *JB