2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (25) · Fuel System, Gasoline (3) · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
34 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
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.
Power Train:manual Transmission 2013-09-19 · campaign 13V446000 · 10,474 vehicles
Defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured from December 12, 2007, through March 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the clutch master cylinder can fail.
Risk: Failure of the clutch master cylinder reduces the ability to shift the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected clutch master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2013. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's campaign number for this recall is SR-13-009.
Service bulletins (82)
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.
Power Train 2024-03-19 · TSB-24-27-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Power Train 2023-07-21 · TSB-23-22-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the transaxle assembly removal and installation of the roll stopper bracket.
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 82 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-10-25 · Unknown Or Other“aye/ hydralic pump was never changed out was told when i went to do a manufacturing recal that it worked fine when it didnt and after wards hit past the 100,000 miles and was automatically unable to get the replacement.…”
2016-03-22 · Power Train · 44,000 mi“ayc pump failure at 44 thousand miles.…”
2014-12-17 · Power Train“acd/ ayc pump failure, one time i was doing fluid inspection on my car when i notice the cars atf fluid reservoir in the trunk is losing oil. looked at the floor found some red oil dripping. it may have seem that pump may have been failing to hold pressure and lose oil. possible gasket failure or pump crack. been searching online for similar proble…”
2014-12-08 · Power Train · 29,768 mi“vehicle was in cold weather, ayc system light turned on. i checked the forums and found that this is a common issue that indicates the pump is bad. this is a very common problem. *tr…”
2014-11-20 · Power Train · 66,000 mi“it was a cold winter day, i started driving my evo to a nearby grocery store. enroute, the awd system would throw a warning and a dashboard light lit up. i was concerned, stopped the vehicle and found no leaks or no weird noises. the vehicle was unable to shift into snow/tarmac/gravel mode. fortunately i was not stranded on the road side. upon furt…”
2014-10-02 · Power Train · 67,000 mi“when starting my 2008 mitsubishi lancer evolution gsr, i received a warning message on the cluster display showing a yellow-orange symbol that shows 4 wheels connected by axles and the middle-shaft, where the front two wheels are facing at an angle to the side. the error code read as c161e: dtc c161e: electric pump relay circuit system (stuck). thi…”
2014-07-03 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 47,000 mi“loss of electronic stability control. ayc/acd pump failure due to poor engineering. car has no stability control and driver is more likely to lose control in severe weather conditions. *tr…”
2014-06-04 · Power Train · 40,000 mi“active yaw control (ayc) and active center differential (acd) pump failed. not covered under power train warranty pump was corroded and could no longer produce enough pressure. pump in located directly behind passenger rear wheel exposed to water, salt, and other road debris. *tr …”
2014-05-27 · Power Train · 48,071 mi“went to dealer for transmission check and after a mile awc light came on they said it had nothing to do with computer update they did.mind you my tranny was going bad and dealer did not want nothing to do with it even under warranty. *tr…”
2014-05-12 · Power Train · 45,000 mi“electronic stability control / s-awc (tarmac/gravel/snow) inoperable. terrain selection can be performed at 0mph however when the car is placed in motion: forward / reverse, the instrument panel indicates there is service required in the awd traction control system. this is apparently a common problem, from the multitude of complaints for this sp…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.