8 Year Warranty on panels confirmed by Lotus

[Beachbum]

Someone on a different thread, related to warranties, posted a link to an archived page of the Lotus website, that showed the warranty durations as being 12yrs for car prior to Aug 24 for body work, as well as other durations for other aspects. I cannot find it, but a detailed search should do so, or maybe the person who posted it originally could report it.

 

[geoffbland]

Someone on a different thread, related to warranties, posted a link to an archived page of the Lotus website, that showed the warranty durations as being 12yrs for car prior to Aug 24 for body work, as well as other durations for other aspects. I cannot find it, but a detailed search should do so, or maybe the person who posted it originally could report it.

 

[Nelumbo nucifera]

I do think this has had a mention somewhere on our forum previously, but is the non-ferrous panel “bubbling” issue considered corrosion taking place?
At least one search result concluded
1) The term “corrosion” means the deterioration of a material or its properties due to a reaction of that material with its chemical environment.
Another stated that corrosion is not limited to metal products alone.
Does anyone have insight regarding this definition and applying it to the panel/door warranty issues?

 

[dbjames]

I wound not assume that lotus will regard paint bubbling as a body panel not paint issue - even though we all agree that it is. I saw a report on Facebook of someone with a car just over 3 years old having a fight with Lotus UK over the paint warranty. They initially offered to replace the doors as goodwill but only if he signed a NDA to not tell anyone they had done it. I suspect they will try to argue that a paint issue falls under the (expired) paint warranty and this will not be a straightforward thing. Unless someone has it in writing from Lotus UK the paint bubbling carries 8 year coverage...

 

[Nelumbo nucifera]

I wound not assume that lotus will regard paint bubbling as a body panel not paint issue - even though we all agree that it is. I saw a report on Facebook of someone with a car just over 3 years old having a fight with Lotus UK over the paint warranty. They initially offered to replace the doors as goodwill but only if he signed a NDA to not tell anyone they had done it. I suspect they will try to argue that a paint issue falls under the (expired) paint warranty and this will not be a straightforward thing. Unless someone has it in writing from Lotus UK the paint bubbling carries 8 year coverage...

Thank you so much for your response. Like many others, I have no problem with the “bubbling issue” (though I do wait with bated breath). However, I or we cannot help but feel for our fellow owners facing this problem.
When a manufacturer supplied or even worse continues (if that is the case), to supply vehicles with a known fault and in the process of repair replaces that part with another bearing the same problem, strong action needs to take place.
Some owners have faced this very scenario multiple times. The fact that Lotus- Geely attempt to hide the fault/s by demanding a NDS together with destruction or all faulty items before professional examination can take place,, is tantamount to admission of responsibility.
None of us wish to see the demise of Lotus and our wonderful cars.
It could well be that this particular fault has now been addressed (2026 models forward) we hope. But if the existing rubbery warranty period comes to an end and/or Lotus- Geely refuse to bear the cost to rectify known faults, it’s time for a class action friends.
There must be amongst all Emira owners worldwide, a switched on lawyer, solicitor, barrister who can give us guidance even become an appointed advocate to act on behalf of all.
Funding such a venture by means of a recognised trust account process, is not difficult to establish and monitor, transparency being the key.
Doing the ground work now, before any funding is needed, if indeed it comes to that, would be a prudent move, would it not?
It would be worthwhile to put forward any expression of interest.

 

[geoffbland]

None of us wish to see the demise of Lotus and our wonderful cars.
It could well be that this particular fault has now been addressed (2026 models forward) we hope. But if the existing rubbery warranty period comes to an end and/or Lotus- Geely refuse to bear the cost to rectify known faults, it’s time for a class action friends.

You would expect the cost of replacing the panels would be borne by the manufacturer of the panels - so not Lotus/Geely but Teijin.

 

[Nelumbo nucifera]

You would expect the cost of replacing the panels would be borne by the manufacturer of the panels - so not Lotus/Geely but Teijin.

That’s so true, Geoff, even as others have noted. That restitution action Geely needs to instigate, if they haven’t already, may well be the financial saving grace for the Lotus brand.

 

[GrahamClark_60-68]

So I went back to the link where I thought I had downloaded the warranty booklet from and it's either changed or the one I had was not what I thought it to be. Anyway, at least for us US owners, you can download the warranty booklet here:

Lotus Emira Handbook for Drivers | Lotus Cars

Get operating instructions, essential guidance, and tips to ensure safe and optimal performance of your Lotus Emira.

www.lotuscars.com

Looks like we can rely on this source of info based on the URL. There is a separate link for 2026 cars but it appears the warranty is listed to be the same for these items:

New vehicle warranty: 36 months or 36,000 miles whichever comes first
Paint: 36 months or 36,000 miles whichever comes first.
Corrosion Perforation: 8 years (defined to be either on the chassis or composite body structure)

This differs from the previous booklet I had downloaded that stated the corrosion perforation warranty is specifically for chassis and metal panels but I may have accidentally downloaded the UK warranty booklet. Very curious that @geoffbland just posted something that suggests 12 years on corrosion INCLUDING body panels and 5 year on paint. Not sure what to make of that. @geoffbland do you know the source of that info? Anyway, I just checked the UK site for the warranty booklet and indeed, it looks like what I had downloaded previously (3 years paint, 8 years corrosion of chassis and metal panels), so I probably just downloaded the wrong one earlier. Still I seems interesting to me that the UK booklet would not be reflecting the composite panels in the warranty the way the US warranty is currently.

Sorry if I'm way behind and is this is already well known. But if not, wouldn't this give non-US owners some added ammunition insofar as arguing that Lotus should be honoring 8 years on panel corrosion (if in fact it can be established that the panel bubbling is actually the panel and not the paint and also qualifies as "corrosion perforation"? ).

 

[geoffbland]

Downloaded the UK warranty booklet. Very curious that @geoffbland just posted something that suggests 12 years on corrosion INCLUDING body panels and 5 year on paint. Not sure what to make of that. @geoffbland do you know the source of that info? Anyway, I just checked the UK site for the warranty booklet and indeed, it looks like what I had downloaded previously (3 years paint, 8 years corrosion of chassis and metal panels), so I probably just downloaded the wrong one earlier.

As you say this is all detailed elsewhere on this site where this has all previous been discussed. The 12/5 years comes from the Lotus website, this was changed in late 2024 to be 8/3 years.

What's more interesting is the latest advert from Lotus, the point of this post. It is unusual to manufactures to state up front and centre their warranty terms in an advert (specifically mentioning panels). You could speculate that Lotus are aware that concern about the blistering problem is hurting new sales and so they have put that in there to try and reassure prospective customers.

 

[Nelumbo nucifera]

Warranty by Country?

For any interested, here is the Warranty issued for Australia, August 2023 edition.
Interestingly it does provide warranty for chassis and separately mentions cover for panels too.

https://wlt-p-001.sitecorecontenthub.cloud/api/public/content/1918e2c37de24cff84498d7955dfa0cb?v=0165db52