2003 Mitsubishi LANCER EVOLUTION: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10064065 · 2004-03-29 (March 29, 2004)
THERE ARE PITTED RUST SPOTS ON THE REAR DRIVERSIDE QUARTER PANEL. WHERE THE DOOR MEETS THE PANEL. ALSO THERE ARE SURFACE RUST ON THE REAR OF MY BUMPER OF MY CAR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064065 at NHTSA ↗
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 10066215 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
ROCK CHIPS BEHIND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR. MANY LITTLE CHIPS RUNNING UP THE DOOR FRAME. THE CHIPS ARE IN THE CREASE OF THE DOOR JAMB. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES. I TOOK THE CAR (2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION) TO HALL MITSUBISHI IN NEWPORT NEWS VIRGINIA AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS ROCKS KICKED UP FROM THE ROAD AND DIRECTED ME TO CALL A TOUCH UP PAINT REPAIR SPECIALIST. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER LANCER EVOLUTION OWNERS AND SEEN FIRST HAND THAT ALMOST EVERY EVOLUTION HAS THIS PROBLEM. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066731 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
THE CLUTCH WORE OUT PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066731 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 10068363 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION WITH 10,500 MILES. THE CLUTCH APPEARS TO HAVE PREMATURELY WORN OUT AS ENGAGEMENT IS VERY ROUGH AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JUMP AND LURCH FROM A STAND STILL. COMING FROM A START IN FIRST GEAR IS THE PRIMARY PROBLEM. THIS "CLUTCH SHUTTER/CHATTER" IS VERY COMMON IN THE EVO VIII COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS DUE TO A WORN CLUTCH PLATE AND IS A "WEAR ITEM" AND THUS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY LET ALONE ABUSED. FROM THE INFO I GATHER MANY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071805 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, AND THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PUSH ROD TO THE CLUTCH WAS BEND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PUSH ROD WAS INDEED BEND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074495 · 2004-05-30 (May 30, 2004)
THE CLUTCH IS SHUTTERING / CHATTERING WHEN PULLING FROM A STOP IN 1ST AND MORE SO IN REVERSE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING MILDLY WHEN NEW AND IS NOW MUCH WORSE AT 7000 MILES. IN REVERSE THE SHAKING AND SHUTTERING IS OFTEN SO BAD I MUST PUSH THE CLUTCH BACK IN AND START OVER. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074495 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V138000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND PUERTO RICO, THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) AND GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) AS STATED ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL ARE IN ERROR.
Consequence: OVERLOADING CAN DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLE, ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING HANDLING AND BRAKING, CAUSE TIRE FAILURE, AND RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LABEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V458000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗