RoadVitals

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

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.
28
Latest Jul 11, 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.
5
Latest Jan 26, 2018
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.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), driver assistance and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 87 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

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

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V071000

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Jan 26, 2018
56,641 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.
The risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-18-003View on NHTSA.gov
15V232000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Apr 20, 2015
53,396 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be unstable.
The risk: Unstable voltage could result in intermittent failure of the vehicle's head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. If the headlights and/or windshield wipers fail, the driver could have reduced visibility. If the tail lights fail, the vehicle could be less visible. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected ECU, free of charge. The recall began on June 15 ,2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-002.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-15-002View on NHTSA.gov
15V233000

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

Apr 20, 2015
76,958 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.
The risk: Failure of the blower motor may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-15-003View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 28
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 11, 2019

I HAD SOME WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR THE ASC AND ABS SYSTEMS BEING DISABLED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ABS PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $3000. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE OF THE BRUSHES IN THE ABS PUMP STICKING. THAT SAME ABS PUMP IS USED IN SOME BMW AND JEEP MODELS WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. THE ASC AND ABS SYSTEMS SEEM LIKE CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
11231192
Incident
Sep 7, 2018
Mileage
15,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND 'FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DISABLED' DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NIMAY MITSUBISHI (1011 KENNEDY AVE, KILOMETER 2.5, 787-622-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALL WHEEL CONTROL HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ID
11228271
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
41,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 1, 2018

BAD INJECTOR CAUSED CYLINDER FAILURE OR VALVR CONSTANT VALVE TICK. BLOWN SPARK PLUGS CAUSED PISTON MELTDOWN CAUSING FOR THE PISTONG ROD TO SHOOT THROUGHT THE BLOCK CAUSE A FIRE TO THE ENGINE.. LUCKLY I STOP THE FIRE TOOK IT TO A DELAERSHIP TO VERIFY THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE BUT THE TECHNICINAS TOLD ME THAT THERES NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE BATTERY DIE THERE FOR IT RESET THE COMPUTER MODULE ERASING ALL THE DATA WITH THE PROBABLE CAUSE AND NOTHING WAS DONE AFTER THAT.. BOUGHT A NEW ENGINE AND NOW AFTER 20,000 MILES I GET THE SAME ISSUE BUT MITSUBISHI DOSE NOT WANNA BE RESPOSIBLE FOR A REPLACE ENGINE TO WHICH THEY REPLACE.

NHTSA ID
11075651
Incident
Jul 20, 2017
Mileage
46,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 1, 2018

ON-DASH WARNING LIGHT OF "4WD SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED" CAME ON. THIS WARNING IS INDICATIVE OF A ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL (ACD) PUMP FAILURE, GENERALLY DUE TO CORROSION FROM TREATED WINTER ROAD SURFACES AND/OR THE INABILITY TO HANDLE COLD-WEATHER CLIMATES. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) TO DELAY ACTIVATION OF THE ACD PUMP FOR THIS EXACT REASON 2 YEARS PRIOR TO FAILURE. MITSUBISHI HAS YET TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS CURRENTLY REFUSING TO HONOR WARRANTY SERVICE OF FAILED PUMPS UNDER THEIR 5-YEAR / 36,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, STATING THAT THE PUMP IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE SAFELY AND PROPERLY. IN CONTRAST, A WORKING ACD PUMP DIRECTLY EFFECTS THE VEHICLE'S HANDLING, TRACTION & STEERING - AND ALL 3 DRIVING PARAMETERS IMMEDIATELY BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY WHEN THE PUMP SHUTS DOWN IN SELF-PROTECTION MODE OR HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS VEHICLE HAS A DRIVER-SELECTED SETTING FOR TARMAC (PAVEMENT), GRAVEL/RAIN & SNOW CONDITIONS - THESE SETTINGS ARE COMPLETELY DISABLED WHEN THE ACD PUMP HAS FAILED, OR IS FAILING (ON-DASH WARNING WITH PUMP IN SELF-PROTECTION MODE). THIS ISSUE EFFECTS SEVERAL MODELS (LANCER, LANCER EVOLUTION, RALLIART, ETC.) FROM MODEL YEAR 2008 TO 2014, AND HUNDREDS OF INSTANCES OF THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED IN ONLINE FORUMS (AND PROBABLY SEVERAL-FOLD THAT AMOUNT THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DISCUSSED ONLINE). PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY, THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
11075644
Incident
May 15, 2014
Mileage
45,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 4, 2016

TRANSFER CASE IN THIS CAR OMITS A LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. NOISE INCREASES IN VOLUME THE FASTER THE CAR IS GOING. THIS WHINE IS DUE TO THE WEARING OF THE GEARS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY DESIGN. WHEN THE TRANSFER CASE WHINE HAPPENS, IT HAS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF LOCKING UP WHICH WILL CAUSE ALL WHEELS TO STOP SPINNING POTENTIALLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10924321
Incident
Nov 3, 2016
Mileage
49,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 16, 2016

AYC/ACL PUMP FAILURE. ERROR CODE C161E. SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES FROM OTHER OWNERS.

NHTSA ID
10850041
Incident
Mar 3, 2016
Mileage
104,897 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 14, 2015

WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY THE MESSAGE "4WD SYSTEM REQUIRE SERVICE" CAME UP. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED 40K MILES AND NOW IT ONLY HAS 43K MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN MILDLY SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND HAVE NEVER ABUSED THE CAR. I HEARD IT'S CAUSED BY AYC ACD PUMP FAILURE, ACD C161E. *TR

NHTSA ID
10672344
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
43,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 8, 2014

ACD C161E WAS READ IN THE ECU. IT'S AYC ACD PUMP FAILURE. I DIDN'T DRIVE HARD. I DROVE NORMALLY WHICH I USUALLY DO. AND 4WD SERVICE REQUIRED COMES ON. I SEARCHED A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUE. MITSUBISHI SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ABOUT THIS ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR EVO I READ. *TR

NHTSA ID
10643292
Incident
Oct 5, 2014
Mileage
53,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

TSB-24-27-001

POWER TRAIN

Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides the replacement procedure for the Differential Mount Bracket Bush of the Rear Axle Differential Carrier Assembly in the applicable Service Manual sections.

TSB-23-22-001

POWER TRAIN

This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the transaxle assembly removal and installation of the roll stopper bracket.

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-23-00-004

STRUCTURE

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

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.

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.

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 Evolution by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015321—
2014621—
2013411—
2012310—
2011113039.4
2010Viewing285045.8
2009250—
2008364042.8
2007010—
2006242038.6
2005142047.7
2004010—
2003982043.6

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.