2012 Lotus EvoraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“The rear upper control arm or wishbone developed a crack. The spherical joint in the wishbone started to slide forward and back under braking and acceleration. In my case, it was caught quickly and before there was an accident. However, this wishbone is one leg of a tripod that attaches the wheel to the car. If the crack were to develop into a break, it could cause a catastrophic failure leading to injury or death. Essentially, a rear wheel could fall off. The problem is clearly a pattern failure in these forged aluminum parts. Some have failed with relatively few miles on them. The failures have been confirmed through discussion on on-line forums Lotus Talk and The Lotus Forum. Evidently, the failed parts have been inspected by Lotus. There is a TSB out on the problem: From S.O.P, NA auto from MY12, see TSB 2011/19 - S/Charged (man & auto). No warning lamps related to this failure. Many owners have heard a clunk. I did not hear anything. I disco verde the failure during a routine inspection.”

“I WAS COMING TO A STOP, APPLYING THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES BECAME ROCK HARD I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO SLOW THE CAR STEERING LOCKED AND I REAR ENDED THE CAR I FRONT OF ME AT 2-3 MPH. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CONDITION OCCURRED AGAIN AT NEARLY A COMPLETE STOP AND A THIRD TIME WITH MY WIFE IN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER CARS. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFLASHED THE SOFTWARE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS SINCE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE. ONE THE LOTUSTALK BLOG NUMEROUS LOTUS EVORA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION. SO IT APPEARS THIS IS PREVALENT THERE ARE ONLY 1000 OF THESE CARS IN THE USA . I THINK ALL OWNERS SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND UPDATED AS TO THIS POSSIBLE CONDITION. *TR”