Lotus Elise Being Investigated For Leaking Oil Cooler
In response to complaints from a number of Lotus Elise owners, who say that their tires have become coated in oil, causing handling problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun an investigation into the root cause of the problem.
In a recently filed document, NHTSA said, on its website that it had received 17 individual complaints from Elise owners that an oil cooler line ruptured, spraying the fluid onto the rear wheel assemblies and elsewhere in the engine bay.
The problem is believed to affect some 4,400 cars from the 2005 and 2006 model years; some individual statements from complaining owners include; “the oil line released from its fitting on the front right oil cooler, wetting the tire with oil. The car spun and left the road,” though that same owner reported no damage occurred.
Yet another alleges that his Elise actually caught fire as a result of an oil leak issue, though at present, NHTSA is not aware of any such incidents nor injuries resulting from the problem. It’ll be interesting to see if this safety probe turns into a full-blown recall.
[Source: New York Times]
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