The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the issue of oil-cooler leaks in the Lotus Elise. The concerned models of this car are from the 2005 and 2006 model years. 4,400 units have been covered in this investigation.

The NHTSA received 17 individual complaints from Elise owners regarding the rupture of an oil cooler line. According to the NHTSA website, consumers reported the appearance of smoke in the interior of the car or other cases of an apparent oil leak. Further examination by the consumers revealed that an oil-cooler line has failed, which resulted in spraying of oil in the engine compartment area and/or near one of the wheel or brake assemblies.

One of the owners reported that the oil line got released from the fitting on the front right cooler, thus drenching the tires with oil. This resulted in loss of control and the car spun out of the road. The owner did not report any damage due to this. Another owner has claimed that his Elise caught fire due to the oil leak, though NHTSA is not aware of such incidents at present. No incident of damage, injury or fatality due to the concerned problem has been reported yet.

The investigation is going on and a full recall has not been issued yet. But this investigation may lead to one soon. So, it is advised for any Elise customer from the aforementioned model year to keep an eye out for any news of recall.

via autoblog