2003 Mitsubishi LANCER EVOLUTION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
12,098 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Clutch Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 98 complaints (44.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 9.2% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 44 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 44; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive): 8; Electrical System: 7; Structure:Body: 6; Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle): 3; Exterior Lighting: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (55). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 55 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 55; 2005: 12; 2006: 8; 2007: 5; 2008: 6; 2010: 2; 2012: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2023: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Clutch Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10065853 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES COMING FROM TRANSMISSION/FRONT TRANSFER CASE. I KNOW OF MANY OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS SEVERE DEFECT IN THE EVO VIII FRONT TRANSFER CASE!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068260 · 2004-05-04 (May 4, 2004)
I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION-8, AND AT APPROXIMATELY 2,400 MILES I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION, AND NO MODIFICATIONS HAD BEED DONE TO THE CAR. IT STARTED OUT AS A 4TH TO 5TH GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM(GRINDING). IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S RPM SENSITIVE. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT, AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH NEED FIXING, HOWEVER, DID AKNOWLEDGE AFTER THEY DROVE IT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING "OUT OF PLACE" WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND DID EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I WAS HAVING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151709 · 2006-03-03 (March 3, 2006)
ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BRAKES WHICH SEVERELY LIMITS STOPPING ABILITY. INTERMITTENT SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (45-70 MPH). VIBRATION AND RESULTING LOSS OF TRACTION AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE VERSUS ROAD SURFACE GREATLY REDUCES STOPPING CAPABILITY OF VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM ALSO APPEARS TO NEGATIVELY EFFECT ABS OPERATION SINCE SMOOTH BRAKING CANNOT BE APPLIED AND THEREFORE ABS WILL NOT ENGAGE IN MOST INSTANCES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES BY DEALER, BUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10322926 · 2010-03-30 (March 30, 2010)
MULTIPLE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ACTIVATED SIMPLTANEOUSLY (ABS, SRS, BATTERY, EMERGENCY BRAKE) AT THE SAME TIME THE HORN AND WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED IT WAS QUITE DISORIENTING AND HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN A RAINSTORM! QUITE UNSAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217684 · 2008-02-11 (February 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. AT 65,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WAS BY REMOVING A FUSE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CORRODED WIRING HARNESS. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY, BUT THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HIGH BEAMS, FOG LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227112 · 2008-05-08 (May 8, 2008)
I HAD JUST ARRIVED FROM WORK AND PULLED-IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WAS IDLING MY CAR BEFORE SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN SWITCHED OFF MY HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON, THEN OFF; AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE HEADLIGHTS FINALLY SWITCHED OFF, BUT THEN, THE HEADLIGHTS, PARKLIGHTS, MARKERS AND EVEN THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF AND PULLED OUT THE KEY, BUT JUST BEFORE THIS INCIDENT I USED MY WIPERS TO CLEAR MY WINDSHIELD OF RAIN/MIST WITH A ONE WIPE/MAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,605 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079147 · 2004-07-01 (July 1, 2004)
ECU REGISTERS P0300 (MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE) OBDII ERROR CODE. ERROR CODE IS THROWN, SES LIGHT COMES ON, AND CAR STUMBLES UNTIL THROTTLE IS RELEASED. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS AT LIGHT THROTTLE OR CRUISING (STEADY) THROTTLE. IT CAN OCCUR UNDER LOAD (ACCELERATION) BUT NEVER OCCURS ON DECELERATION. KNOWN FACETS OF THIS PROBLEM THUS FAR ARE: 1) MITSUBISHI IS AWARE OF 2 ISSUES: STICKY (DIRTY) INJECTORS AND A TRANSMISSION HARMONIC RESONANCE, WHICH THROWS THE KNOCK SENSOR 2) THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE WHEN THIS OCCURS UNTIL THE THROTTLE IS R…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446905 · 2012-02-06 (February 6, 2012)
I GOT INTO MY CAR TO START AND IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP, CHECKING ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WIRE HARNESS FUSE BLOCK THAT SITS INSIDE THE DRIVERS FOOT WELL HAS BEEN CORRODED BY WATER FROM A LEAK IN THE FIRE WALL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT EVEN GOES BACK TO THE PREVIOUS GENERATION , EVO VII, AND WASN'T FIXED FOR THE FOLLOWING GENERATION, EVO IX. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10925046 · 2016-11-08 (November 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925046 at NHTSA ↗