NHTSA Complaint #10371195 — 2005 LOTUS ELISE

SAID TO BE A 'COMMON' PROBLEM WHEN LOOKING ON FORUMS;MY 2005 LOTUS ELISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON, SO NATURALLY I SEE A GAS STATION AND GO TO PULL IN WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE LOCKS AND SKIDS TO THE RIGHT SIDE . I WAS ONLY DOING LESS THAN 30MPH SO NOTHING BAD HAPPENED . GOT OUT AND MY ENTIRE CRANKCASE OF SYNTHETIC OIL IS ALL UP THE DRIVER SIDE AND COVERING THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE. I WAS HEADED TO THE INTERSTATE AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. I FEEL BLESSED THE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE I HIT HIGH RPM'S. THIS WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A LOCKED UP BOTTOM ENGINE ( THOUSANDS IN REPAIR) OR SLIDING ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED LOTUS WITH NO REPLY. THE ONLINE FORUMS HAVE HORROR STORIES OF THE EXACT SAME THIN HAPPENIN AND I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. THE REPAIR IS A HYDRAULIC HOSE THAT COOLS YOUR ENGINE OIL FROM REAR TO FRONT. THE FITTING IS KNOW TO BE BAD AND JUST BREAK AWAY OVER TIME. A VERY COSTLY PROBLEM IF IGNORED. I'M OUT THE REPAIRS , TOWING, TOW DAMAGE TO FRONT CLAM. *TR