2008 Mitsubishi Lancer problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (18) · Engine (11) · Power Train (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Lancer model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
61 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Structure:frame And Members 2020-05-18 · campaign 20V279000 · 141,200 vehicles
Defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower c
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2018-01-26 · campaign 18V071000 · 56,641 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys 2014-09-12 · campaign 14V562000 · 165,923 vehicles
Defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachme
Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.
Service bulletins (101)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Structure 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2023-01-12 · TSB-23-11-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb provides revisions to the removal and installation procedures for the rocker cover due to changes in the quantity of mounting bolts for vehicles equipped with 4b1 series engine. (service manual revision)
Unknown Or Other 2022-04-07 · TSB-22-54-003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 101 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-08-28 · Power Train · 98,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 mitsubishi lancer. the contact stated that after a while the system would erase any safety information used to track mileage and only show the gps feature on the digital screen with information from 2004. the contact stated he used the digital screen for the safety features. upon further inspection, the battery would be drai…”
2023-12-18 · Structure:body“we had car at a car dealer and the manufacturer declined doing the recall on the car for corrison on the front crossmember, telling us due to car has a total loss record on carfax. the vehicle total loss record was for a accident that didn't effect that part of the car that's under recall, it was due to vehicle repairs were more then what car was …”
2023-05-06 · Engine“the dealership that is repairing the drive belt recall, is attempting to charge me for the replacement of a damaged pulley.…”
2022-10-18 · Suspension · 116,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2008 mitsubishi lancer. the contact stated while her daughter was driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to roll out of the road and she was unable to steer back into the road. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle rolled over into a ditch. the contact stated no air bags deployed. the contact stated the driv…”
2022-04-24 · Suspension · 💥 crash“our car crashed after getting off the highway in nj. this appears to be related to safety recall report 20v-279. the cross member has completely rusted and the driver side control arm came off, crashing the car and severely damaging the car, with loss of control. i have contacted mitsubishi motors but have received no response from them. there wa…”
2022-01-30 · Service Brakes“the airbags light came on after i bought the car and i am afraid of i get in an accident they will not deploy my mechanic said i would have to go to a car dealership about it... the brakes also fail if i try to stop abruptly they go to the floor and do not stop the vehicle... the brakes are the worst when i am driving slowly and try to come to a st…”
2021-07-22 · Air Bags“air bag light turn on and off …”
2021-03-03 · Suspension“tl* the contact owns a 2008 mitsubishi lancer. the contact stated while his wife was driving at 25 mph, when the cross member snapped and detached from the vehicle. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the driver was unable to control the vehicle and jumped the curb. the driver sustained a dislocated right thumb and did not seek med…”
2021-02-06 · Suspension · 136,000 mi“front lower control arms -tearing bushings, torn boots both outer tie rod ends - torn boots timing cover separate…”
2020-12-29 · Wheels · 174,000 mi“i heard a clunking noise. parked and found rotten parts on tire. mechanic said it cannot be fixed. everything rotted. needs whole new frame. we could have been killed.thank god i was close to home. now i have nothing but an existing car loan for it.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.