RoadVitals

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Apr 4, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), driver assistance and body & structure categories. 29 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance413.3%
  • Body & structure413.3%
  • Steering310.0%
  • Transmission310.0%
  • Engine13.3%
  • Brakes13.3%
  • Electrical13.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Apr 4, 2019

ALL MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X FROM YEARS 2008 THROUGH THE CARS FINAL GEAR IN 2015 SUFFER FROM A DESIGN FLAW TO THE S-AWC SYSTEM. THE ACTIVE YAW CONTROL / ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM RELIES ON A PUMP IN ORDER TO OPERATE . THE LOCATION IS UNPROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS AND THOUSANDS OF THEM HAVE FAILED TO DATE. . MINE FAILED WHICH RENDERED MY CAR TO NO LONGER DRIVE IN A PREDICTABLE OR SAFE MANNER. THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WAS COMPROMISED AND TRACTION CONTROL NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AS EXPECTED. INSTEAD OF THIS BECOMING A RECALL MITSUBISHI EXTENDED A WARRANTY TO REPLACE THIS EXACT COMPONENT RATHER THAN ADMITTING FAULT FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THEY REFUSED TO WARRANTY MINE AS THIS EXCEPTION WAS ONLY MADE AFTER MY WARRANTY HAD ALREADY EXPIRED EVEN THOUGH MY PUMP FAILED BEFORE I HIT 100K MILES. THE ACD / AYC PUMP IS CRITICAL COMPONENT TO THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF THE LANCER EVOLUTION 10 . EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO ONLY COVER A SMALL PORTION OF FAILURES IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DISHONEST. THE DESIGN IS UNSAFE AND THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF THIS AND OTHER AFFECTED COMPONENTS IS EXTREMELY COSTLY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. ALL PUMPS WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL AS THE SEALS EVENTUALLY FAIL AND CORROSION OF THE PUMP OR ELECTRIC MOTOR . THIS EFFECTS ALL EVOLUTION 10S REGARDLESS OF CLIMATE. HERE ARE OTHERS FACING THE SAME HTTPS://WWW.EVOLUTIONM.NET/FORUMS/EVO-X-ENGINE-TURBO-DRIVETRAIN/660431-ACD-AYC-PUMP-FAILURE-REPORTS-11.HTML HERE IS ONE COMPANY SELLING A KIT TO RELOCATE THE PUMP TO THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AS THIS HELPS TO PROTECT THE PUMP FROM THE ELEMENTS AND ULTIMATELY PREMATURE FAILURE HTTPS://WWW.DRIVEN-FABRICATION.COM/PRODUCTS/EVO-X-ACD-AYC-RELOCATION-KIT-PRE-ORDER THERE ARE ALSO AFTERMARKET COMPANIES OFFERING UPGRADED O RINGS AND REBUILD KITS SINCE MITSUBISHI ONLY REPLACES PUMPS WITH NEW ONES AND HASN'T ACTUALLY FIXED THE DESIGN

NHTSA ID
11193740
Incident
Apr 2, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 13, 2018

MITSUBISHI RECALL 09V077000 IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, I NOTICED THAT WHILE IN MOTION MY BREAKS WERE NOT REACTING WITH THEIR TYPICAL SPEED. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO A MECHANIC, THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR'S BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AND THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THIS BACK IN 2009. I WAS CONCERNED AS I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR, FRANKLY, MORE RECALLS THAN I CAN EVEN REMEMBER, SO I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE THE MAINTENANCE. AFTER A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MITSTUBISHI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT TURNS OUT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT CONSIDERED AS IT WAS MADE "SIX MONTHS BEFORE." THIS IS REALLY ODD AS, FROM ALL THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE RECALL, NO TIMELINES WERE SPECIFIED, JUST THE MODEL YEARS AFFECTED. IF MY CAR WAS TRULY NOT IN THE NEED OF THE RECALL, THAT'S COMPLETELY FINE, BUT THE ANSWERS I RECEIVED REGARDING THIS REALLY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, AND I'D RATHER REPORT IT IN CASE MORE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED THAN JUST TAKE IT AT FACE VALUE.

NHTSA ID
11072777
Incident
Feb 13, 2018
Mileage
116,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 3, 2018

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2016 FOR A FLASHING TARAMIC LIGHT AND THEY TOLD THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG. WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THEY NEGLETED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS ISSUE WAS UNTIL 6 MONTHS LATER AND I JUST HAD REACHED 100,500 MILES ON THE CAR. I FOUND ON A FORM IT COULD BE THE A FLUID ISSUE, SO I WENT TO MITSUBISHI TO GET FLUID AND THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME OF THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I EVENTUALLY TOOK MITSUBISHI TO COURT FOR NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF CARE AND THE CASE WAS THROWN OUT. I'M SICK OF DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11066784
Incident
Feb 2, 2016
Mileage
95,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 22, 2017

AYC PUMP FAILED CODE C161E. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE PUMP WAS FAILING DUE TO SALT CORROSION. THIS SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL SINCE NURMEROUS OF OTHER CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10967896
Incident
Mar 22, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 3, 2016

ACD/ACY RECALL. I PURCHASED MY 2008 EVO WITH 95000 MILES ON IT. SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH IT RUNNING LEAN AND MY AYC SERVICE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH 96000 MILES ON THE CAR IN HOPES FOR THEM TO HELP ME FIX THESE ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND YET THERE WAS NO HELP AT ALL. SO THEN I WENT ON MY WAY AND I HAD ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FIX MY PROBLEMS AND I WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 4200 MILES MY CAR THEN HAD 100,200 MILES ON IT AND I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A REAR DIFF FLUID CHANGE IN THE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE AND THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THESE AYC PUMPS AND AND NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN I WAS IN SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI THEMSELVES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR ME EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM THAT I WAS THERE BEFORE HAND WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL LIKE I WAS SCAMMED AND IT'S HORRIBLE TO HAVE TO FIGHT WITH MITSUBISHI ABOUT A PUMP THEY CAN RISK MY SAFETY AND THE OTHERS IN MY CAR . I WAS SCREWED OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT .

NHTSA ID
10929738
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 11, 2015

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION CENTER DIFFERENTIAL PINS IN MANUAL 2008 MODELS. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR POPPED OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL, THEN I SHIFTED TO 4TH AND POPPED OUT AGAIN TO NEUTRAL, I HAD TO QUICKLY SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID. UPON TOWING IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL PINS HAVE BACKED OUT THEY SAID "IT HAPPENS BUT NOT THAT COMMON." I WAS IN DISBELIEF THE PINS HAD CAUSED A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING AND ALL THE OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE THE GEARS TO CEASE UP NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SEE PICTURES, UPON RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS ON THE EVO FORUMS AND IN FACT 2 MAJOR COMPANIES JACKS TRANSMISSION AND SHEPTRANS OFFER "UPGRADES" TO PREVENT THIS! UPGRADES? TO CAUSE A TRANSMISSION FROM COMPLETELY FAILING. APPARENTLY MITSUBISHI RECOGNIZED THIS AND UPGRADED THE PINS HEAT COATING IN 2010 TO PREVENT THIS BUT I AM STUCK WITH A 5000 DOLLAR REPAIR BILL AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I TRIED TO REMEDY THIS WITH MITSU USA AND IT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO BUT I AM STILL UPSET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND I STILL DRIVE THIS CAR TO THIS DAY. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE REVIEWED IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. 2008 LANCER EVO GSR MODELS

NHTSA ID
10789795
Incident
Jan 5, 2014
Mileage
69,488 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 13, 2015

RECALL FOR DEFECT, NOTICE OCTOBER 2014. *TR

NHTSA ID
10672203
Incident
Oct 14, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 23, 2014

I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR AND AM LEARNING MUCH NOW THAT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I TOOK MY CAR TO BE DIAGNOSED AT FITZGERALD MITSUBISHI IN ANNAPOLIS MD, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN 800 OR 3100 DOLLAR FIX, DEPENDING ON WHICH JOB NEEDED TO BE DONE. THE BIG FIX IS THE AYC/ADC HYDRAULIC UNIT THAT PRESSURIZES THE CLUTCHES IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. WHAT CAUSES THE FAILURE IS CORROSION. THIS UNIT IS PLACED BEHIND THE RH REAR TIRE AND HAS VERY LITTLE PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS. THIS UNIT NEEDS TO BE RELOCATED OR BETTER SHIELDING NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED. READING THE EVOLUTIONM.NET FORUMS, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS CORROSION IS VERY POPULAR AND THE REPAIRS ARE EXTREMELY PRICEY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605444
Incident
Jun 14, 2014
Mileage
70,055 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

DEALER LETTER

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

TSB-23-00-001

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs.

TSB-23-00-004

STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.

DEALER LETTER

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

TSB-22-54-003

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.

TT253

EQUIPMENT

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008Viewing230027.8
2006100030.8
2005200
2004200
2003100

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.