Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution year.
Over 5 years this costs $8,750 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, 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 the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
Campaign 16V458000
The parts named most often across 2 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
I BOUGHT A 2004 LANCER OZ RALLY BRAND NEW, STILL DRIVE IT DAILY AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS PROBLEM TOO. IT WAS HARD TO TURN TO THE HEAT AND THE KNOB BROKE OFF. I CAN'T USE THE HEAT ANYMORE BECAUSE I CAN'T GET IT TO TURN AT ALL. I EVEN TRIED USING NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS (MINE STILL HAS SOME OF THE WHITE PLASTIC PART ATTACHED), WHICH WORKED A FEW TIMES BUT NOW I CAN'T GET IT TO TURN AT ALL. IN 2006, WHEN THE KNOB BROKE OFF, I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $800 TO REPAIR. I ASKED WHY, IT'S JUST A KNOB? THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO TAKE MY WHOLE DASH APART TO FIX IT AND IT WAS MOSTLY LABOR COSTS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THIS FOR A FAULTY MECHANISM. I ALSO COULDN'T USE MY DEFROSTER THIS MORNING AND REALLY NEEDED IT. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO WIPE MY WINDOWS... NOT SAFE MITSUBISHI!!!! PLEASE RECALL THIS NOW!!! *TR
I HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2004 LANCER RALLIART. I HAD THE REAR SWAY BAR REPLACED, AND THEN I ALSO HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED IT WAS GOOD FOR 2 DAYS AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I HAD TO PAY ALOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. *TR
Rated configuration: 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4-DR.