NHTSA Complaint #10439279 — 2007 LOTUS EXIGE S

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED SOME SMOKE EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE BAY, AND THERE WAS OIL DRIPPING DOWN FROM THE UNDER PANELS. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOTUS CERTIFIED SHOP, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE OIL SANDWICH PLATE THAT CONNECTS TO THE FRONT OIL COOLER BROKE, ALLOWING THE OIL TO SPRAY OUT ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY AND UNDER PANEL. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO QUARTS OF OIL LOST, AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THE OIL DID NOT GET ON THE TIRES AS IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC CRASH.THE SHOP SAID THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL LOTUS CARS - EXIGE AND ELISE THAT CAME INTO THE SHOP WITH IDENTICAL ISSUES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS BEING LOGGED ON LOTUS SPECIFIC FORUMS AS WELL. *TR