Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2008 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.
NHTSA lists 4 recalls 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. (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: 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.
Campaign 14V562000
Issue: 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: 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.
Campaign 13V446000
Issue: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 09V349000
Issue: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 09V435000
Over 5 years this costs $8,750 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
Rated configuration: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4-DR w/SAB
The parts named most often across 59 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.
ALL MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X FROM YEARS 2008 THROUGH THE CARS FINAL GEAR IN 2015 SUFFER FROM A DESIGN FLAW TO THE S-AWC SYSTEM. THE ACTIVE YAW CONTROL / ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM RELIES ON A PUMP IN ORDER TO OPERATE . THE LOCATION IS UNPROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS AND THOUSANDS OF THEM HAVE FAILED TO DATE. . MINE FAILED WHICH RENDERED MY CAR TO NO LONGER DRIVE IN A PREDICTABLE OR SAFE MANNER. THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WAS COMPROMISED AND TRACTION CONTROL NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AS EXPECTED. INSTEAD OF THIS BECOMING A RECALL MITSUBISHI EXTENDED A WARRANTY TO REPLACE THIS EXACT COMPONENT RATHER THAN ADMITTING FAULT FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THEY REFUSED TO WARRANTY MINE AS THIS EXCEPTION WAS ONLY MADE AFTER MY WARRANTY HAD ALREADY EXPIRED EVEN THOUGH MY PUMP FAILED BEFORE I HIT 100K MILES. THE ACD / AYC PUMP IS CRITICAL COMPONENT TO THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF THE LANCER EVOLUTION 10 . EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO ONLY COVER A SMALL PORTION OF FAILURES IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DISHONEST. THE DESIGN IS UNSAFE AND THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF THIS AND OTHER AFFECTED COMPONENTS IS EXTREMELY COSTLY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. ALL PUMPS WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL AS THE SEALS EVENTUALLY FAIL AND CORROSION OF THE PUMP OR ELECTRIC MOTOR . THIS EFFECTS ALL EVOLUTION 10S REGARDLESS OF CLIMATE. HERE ARE OTHERS FACING THE SAME HTTPS://WWW.EVOLUTIONM.NET/FORUMS/EVO-X-ENGINE-TURBO-DRIVETRAIN/660431-ACD-AYC-PUMP-FAILURE-REPORTS-11.HTML HERE IS ONE COMPANY SELLING A KIT TO RELOCATE THE PUMP TO THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AS THIS HELPS TO PROTECT THE PUMP FROM THE ELEMENTS AND ULTIMATELY PREMATURE FAILURE HTTPS://WWW.DRIVEN-FABRICATION.COM/PRODUCTS/EVO-X-ACD-AYC-RELOCATION-KIT-PRE-ORDER THERE ARE ALSO AFTERMARKET COMPANIES OFFERING UPGRADED O RINGS AND REBUILD KITS SINCE MITSUBISHI ONLY REPLACES PUMPS WITH NEW ONES AND HASN'T ACTUALLY FIXED THE DESIGN
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.
MITSUBISHI RECALL 09V077000 IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, I NOTICED THAT WHILE IN MOTION MY BREAKS WERE NOT REACTING WITH THEIR TYPICAL SPEED. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO A MECHANIC, THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR'S BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AND THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THIS BACK IN 2009. I WAS CONCERNED AS I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR, FRANKLY, MORE RECALLS THAN I CAN EVEN REMEMBER, SO I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE THE MAINTENANCE. AFTER A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WITH BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MITSTUBISHI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT TURNS OUT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT CONSIDERED AS IT WAS MADE "SIX MONTHS BEFORE." THIS IS REALLY ODD AS, FROM ALL THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE RECALL, NO TIMELINES WERE SPECIFIED, JUST THE MODEL YEARS AFFECTED. IF MY CAR WAS TRULY NOT IN THE NEED OF THE RECALL, THAT'S COMPLETELY FINE, BUT THE ANSWERS I RECEIVED REGARDING THIS REALLY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, AND I'D RATHER REPORT IT IN CASE MORE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED THAN JUST TAKE IT AT FACE VALUE.
I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2016 FOR A FLASHING TARAMIC LIGHT AND THEY TOLD THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG. WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THEY NEGLETED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS ISSUE WAS UNTIL 6 MONTHS LATER AND I JUST HAD REACHED 100,500 MILES ON THE CAR. I FOUND ON A FORM IT COULD BE THE A FLUID ISSUE, SO I WENT TO MITSUBISHI TO GET FLUID AND THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME OF THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I EVENTUALLY TOOK MITSUBISHI TO COURT FOR NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF CARE AND THE CASE WAS THROWN OUT. I'M SICK OF DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.
AYC PUMP FAILED CODE C161E. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE PUMP WAS FAILING DUE TO SALT CORROSION. THIS SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL SINCE NURMEROUS OF OTHER CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.
ACD/ACY RECALL. I PURCHASED MY 2008 EVO WITH 95000 MILES ON IT. SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE I WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH IT RUNNING LEAN AND MY AYC SERVICE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH 96000 MILES ON THE CAR IN HOPES FOR THEM TO HELP ME FIX THESE ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND YET THERE WAS NO HELP AT ALL. SO THEN I WENT ON MY WAY AND I HAD ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FIX MY PROBLEMS AND I WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 4200 MILES MY CAR THEN HAD 100,200 MILES ON IT AND I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A REAR DIFF FLUID CHANGE IN THE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE AND THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THESE AYC PUMPS AND AND NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN I WAS IN SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI THEMSELVES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR ME EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM THAT I WAS THERE BEFORE HAND WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL LIKE I WAS SCAMMED AND IT'S HORRIBLE TO HAVE TO FIGHT WITH MITSUBISHI ABOUT A PUMP THEY CAN RISK MY SAFETY AND THE OTHERS IN MY CAR . I WAS SCREWED OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT .
AYC PUMP FAILURE AT 44 THOUSAND MILES.
FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION CENTER DIFFERENTIAL PINS IN MANUAL 2008 MODELS. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR POPPED OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL, THEN I SHIFTED TO 4TH AND POPPED OUT AGAIN TO NEUTRAL, I HAD TO QUICKLY SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID. UPON TOWING IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL PINS HAVE BACKED OUT THEY SAID "IT HAPPENS BUT NOT THAT COMMON." I WAS IN DISBELIEF THE PINS HAD CAUSED A CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING AND ALL THE OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD LEAKED OUT CAUSING THE THE GEARS TO CEASE UP NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SEE PICTURES, UPON RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS ON THE EVO FORUMS AND IN FACT 2 MAJOR COMPANIES JACKS TRANSMISSION AND SHEPTRANS OFFER "UPGRADES" TO PREVENT THIS! UPGRADES? TO CAUSE A TRANSMISSION FROM COMPLETELY FAILING. APPARENTLY MITSUBISHI RECOGNIZED THIS AND UPGRADED THE PINS HEAT COATING IN 2010 TO PREVENT THIS BUT I AM STUCK WITH A 5000 DOLLAR REPAIR BILL AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. I TRIED TO REMEDY THIS WITH MITSU USA AND IT HAPPENED A YEAR AGO BUT I AM STILL UPSET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND I STILL DRIVE THIS CAR TO THIS DAY. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE REVIEWED IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. 2008 LANCER EVO GSR MODELS
RECALL FOR DEFECT, NOTICE OCTOBER 2014. *TR
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 PROBLEMS, I FOUND OUT IT SEEMED TO BE MOSTLY EVERY OWNERS PROBLEM. IS THIS SUPPOSE TO BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER? SEEM LIKE POOR MATERIAL BUILD. *TR
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
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 FURTHER INVESTIGATION I CAME TO KNOW THAT THE ACD PUMP FAILED AND HENCE IT THREW AN AWD ERROR. ITS COSTING ABOUT 2200 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
Showing 12 of 59 complaints.