NHTSA Complaint #10455149 — 2007 LOTUS ELISE

AWARE OF NHTSA RECALL # 11V-510 HAVING RECEIVED LETTER FROM LOTUS CARS USA BUT WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE WAS PROBABLY NOT AFFECTED. MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF OIL LEAKAGE ANYWAY BUT SAW NOTHING: NO CHANGE IN OIL LEVEL ON DIPSTICK CHECKS, NO SIGNS OF OIL UNDER CAR. WHILE ACCELERATING ON EXPRESSWAY, HAD LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT COME ON AND NOTICED SOME DIFFICULTY STEERING DUE TO SLICKNESS AS CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE HALT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. RIGHT SIDE OF CAR WAS COVERED IN OIL, APPARENTLY ORIGINATING AT OIL COOLER LOCATED IN FRONT OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOTUS DEALER AND OIL LINE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BURST. AFTER FIXING, WAS TOLD THERE WAS SOUND OF CYLINDER DAMAGE IN ENGINE. LOTUS WILL BE REPLACING THE ENGINE AT THEIR COST PER DEALER'S REPORT TO ME ON 4/3/2012.