2008 Mitsubishi LANCER EVO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
47,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 23 complaints (47.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 21.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.3% |
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 | 11 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Power Train: 11; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Steering: 3; Structure: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Electrical System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10238007 · 2008-08-13 (August 13, 2008)
THE GEAR SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY NOTCHY AND CAUSE FREQUENT GRINDING WHEN SHIFTING TO GEARS 2 AND 3. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING. THE PROBLEM IS PRONOUNCED DURING COLD ENGINE CONDITIONS. GRINDING CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVEN IN WARM CONDITIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER AND SLOWED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SHIFT IN TIME DUE TO THE GRINDING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239442 · 2008-08-23 (August 23, 2008)
THE CAR WILL KICK UP ANY SMALL ROCKS AND CHIP THE REAR DOORS AND SIDE SKIRTS. I HAVE INSTALLED MUD GUARDS, BUT DOES NOT HELP EITHER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242116 · 2008-09-14 (September 14, 2008)
LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING MY NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION GSR I NOTICED ROCK CHIPS IN THE LOWER REAR CORNERS OF THE REAR DOORS, JUST AHEAD OF THE CLEAR PROTECTIVE FILM ALREADY INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO PREVENT PAINT CHIPPING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250468 · 2008-12-02 (December 2, 2008)
PAINT CHIPPING PREMATURELY ON A NEW CAR. THE VEHICLE STARTED GETTING CHIPS ON THE FINISH JUST AFTER A FEW HUNDRED MILES. THIS HAPPENS ON THE LOWER PASSENGER DOOR AREAS. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD. I BELIEVE THIS IS COMING FROM THE TIRES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10250468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259600 · 2009-02-22 (February 22, 2009)
CLUTCH DISK DRAGGING DURING DISENGAGEMENT, CAUSING HARD SHIFTING AND PREMATURELY WEARING THE TRANSMISSION SYNCHRONIZERS. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS BROUGHT TO MITUSIBISHI, AND NO FOX OFFERED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10259600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260760 · 2009-03-04 (March 4, 2009)
I TOOK IN MY MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO TO LOCAL DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS CAR CURRENTLY HAS 3,300 MILES AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS IN SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD.AT TIMES I NEED TO TAKE CLUTCH PEDAL OUT TWO TO THREE TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO ENGAGE. SOME TIMES TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE ALSO. DEALER HAD CAR FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND INDICATED ON THEIR WORK ORDER THAT THE CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS WHILE TEST DRIVING? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,222 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265978 · 2009-04-19 (April 19, 2009)
THE PAINT IS CHIPPING ON THE BOTTOM SIDE, OF THE BACK REAR DOORS NEXT TO THE FENDER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AS TALKED IN THE FORUMS IN EDMUNDS.COM I HAVE A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, WITH 3,500 MILES ON IT AND THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND MITSUBISHI WONT DO ANYTHING I NEVER DROVE MY CAR IN GRAVEL, I THINK THE DESIGN FLAW HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AERODYNAMICS OF THE CAR, AND POOR PAINT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453773 · 2012-04-02 (April 2, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER (09V435000) AIR BAG: FRONTAL: SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453773 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.