2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls and problems

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 4 recalls and 36 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

How the 2008 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 11 Lancer Evolution model years — 2nd most.

4recalls

36complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

45,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Engine

Sep 12, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V562000 · 165,923 vehicles

Problem: 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 detachment.

Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Power Train

Sep 19, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V446000 · 10,474 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Air Bags

Nov 5, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V435000 · 29,353 vehicles

Problem: Mitsubishi is recalling model year 2008-2009 lancer and lancer evolution vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and District of Columbia. In areas where heavy road salt is used in the winter, a long term exposure to a mixture of melted snow with salt thrown up by the other vehicles on the road May cause a water-salt mixture to adhere to the front impact sensors.

Original NHTSA wording

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER AND LANCER EVOLUTION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE HEAVY ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, A LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO A MIXTURE OF MELTED SNOW WITH SALT THROWN UP BY THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD MAY CAUSE A WATER-SALT MIXTURE TO ADHERE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS.

Risk: This coating over time May cause corrosion of the sensor. In the event of a vehicle crash of the type that would deploy the airbags this type of short-circuit May cause a delay in the deployment of the airbags which could result in driver or passenger injury.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COATING OVER TIME MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE SENSOR. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH OF THE TYPE THAT WOULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS THIS TYPE OF SHORT-CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE A DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WHICH COULD RESULT IN DRIVER OR PASSENGER INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install new front airbag sensors that have improved corrosion resistance. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on November 27, 2009. Owners May contact Mitsubishi customer relations department at 1-888-648-7820.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Fuel System

Sep 8, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V349000 · 6,903 vehicles

Problem: Mitsubishi is recalling model year 2008-2009 lancer evolution, ralliart, and sportback ralliart vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines. The manner in which the fuel return pipe is attached to the engine, in combination with frequent vehicle operation at certain engine revolutions, May result in a resonance that, if continued over time, May cause a stress crack to develop at the fixed portion of the fuel pipe.

Original NHTSA wording

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER EVOLUTION, RALLIART, AND SPORTBACK RALLIART VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGED ENGINES. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FUEL RETURN PIPE IS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE, IN COMBINATION WITH FREQUENT VEHICLE OPERATION AT CERTAIN ENGINE REVOLUTIONS, MAY RESULT IN A RESONANCE THAT, IF CONTINUED OVER TIME, MAY CAUSE A STRESS CRACK TO DEVELOP AT THE FIXED PORTION OF THE FUEL PIPE.

Risk: If this stress crack develops, fuel leakage May occur. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THIS STRESS CRACK DEVELOPS, FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

The fuel return pipe will be replaced with a new part and two additional attachment brackets will be installed to better control fuel pipe vibration. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on September 29, 2009. Owners May contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.

Mitsubishi's recall campaign number is sr-09-004.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train26

Electronic Stability Control19

Unknown or other1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2008 vs. other Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2008. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the latest from Sep 12, 2014 (engine). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (26), electronic stability control (19), fuel system (3). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.