NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 36 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mitsubishi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution owner complaints

Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, describing incidents dated May 14, 2009 to September 8, 2016.

Most-cited components

Power Train 26 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 19 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Seats 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11142680 · Filed October 25, 2018
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.
ODI #10851019 · Filed March 22, 2016
AYC PUMP FAILURE AT 44 THOUSAND MILES.
ODI #10664740 · Filed December 17, 2014
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…

Read all 36 complaints

Drive Belt may Detach due to Worn Engine Pulley

NHTSA #14V562000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Gasoline — Belts and Associated Pulleys · NHTSA notice

Reported September 12, 2014 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 165,923 vehicles

Repair completion: 46.58% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mitsubishi campaign SR-14-009 · Owners notified October 15, 2014 · Vehicles built August 7, 2007 – April 22, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

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.

Clutch Master Cylinder Failure

NHTSA #13V446000 · Power Train — Manual Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported September 19, 2013 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 10,474 vehicles

Repair completion: 58.01% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mitsubishi campaign SR-13-009 · Owners notified November 12, 2013 · Vehicles built December 12, 2007 – March 5, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Failure of the clutch master cylinder reduces the ability to shift the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

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.

FRONT SENSOR SAFETY

NHTSA #09V435000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported November 5, 2009 · MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 29,353 vehicles

Owners notified November 27, 2009 · Vehicles built December 12, 2007 – December 11, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

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 RETURN PIPE

NHTSA #09V349000 · Fuel System, Other — Delivery · NHTSA notice

Reported September 8, 2009 · MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 6,903 vehicles

Mitsubishi campaign SR-09-004 · Owners notified September 29, 2009 · Vehicles built August 7, 2007 – December 11, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

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> .

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4-DR w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

36 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11142680

Incident: September 8, 2016 · Filed: October 25, 2018

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.

Power Train

ODI #10851019

Incident: March 19, 2016 · Filed: March 22, 2016

AYC PUMP FAILURE AT 44 THOUSAND MILES.

Power Train

ODI #10664740

Incident: October 24, 2014 · Filed: December 17, 2014

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

Power Train; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10662884

Incident: December 5, 2014 · Filed: December 8, 2014

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

Power Train; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10659722

Incident: January 8, 2014 · Filed: November 20, 2014

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

Power Train; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10640971

Incident: September 24, 2014 · Filed: October 2, 2014

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). THIS HAS BECOME A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. SO COMMON THAT WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR THE CODE C161E, YOU CAN FIND COUNTLESS FORUM DISCUSSIONS ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES COMMENTING ON THE FREQUENCY OF THIS ISSUE. INCLUDING MYSELF, A SINGLE DISCUSSION IDENTIFIES AT LEAST 48 UNIQUE CARS, 42 OF WHICH ARE THE 2008 MODEL YEAR, WHERE THE ACD PUMP FAILED, ALL OF WHICH HAVING DRIVEN FEWER THAN 75,000 MILES AND NEARLY 60% WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES (HTTP://WWW.EVOXFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=58221&HIGHLIGHT=C161E&PAGE=1). SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES REQUIRED MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF THE SAME PART. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLE'S ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM, LIKELY INCLUDING THE VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10607970

Incident: November 1, 2013 · Filed: July 3, 2014

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

Power Train; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10595963

Incident: January 6, 2014 · Filed: June 4, 2014

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

Power Train; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10594401

Incident: May 3, 2014 · Filed: May 27, 2014

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

Power Train; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10587851

Incident: April 13, 2012 · Filed: May 12, 2014

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 SPECIFIC ISSUE POSTED HERE. *TR

Other Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution model years

Check your 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIN

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