2008 Mitsubishi LANCER EVOLUTION: complaints, problems and recalls

PURCHASE MY 2008 MITSUBUSHI EVOLUTION X ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO WITH 2,900MILES. I DON'T DRIVE IT OFTEN SINCE I HAVE A COMPANY CAR. MY CURRENT MILES IS 4,400MILES. I AM BEGINNING TO NOTICE ALOT OF SMALL CHIPS TOWARD THE BACK DOORS BOTTOM CORNER NEAR QUARTER PANEL ON BOTH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BEEN ON MANY FORUMS AND ALOT OF EVO X OWNER ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PAINT PROBLEM.THE ROAD CONDITION HERE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE, SO I DON'T SEE WHY THE PAINT IS CHIPPING AWAY. IM AFRAID WHEN I REACH 10,000MILES, THE CAR INTERIOR WOULD STILL BE FAIRLY NEW BUT THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286586 at NHTSA ↗

MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF AMERICA HAS A AWD ECU SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR VEHICLES SPECIFICALLY DRIVEN IN COLD CONDITIONS. DEALERSHIPS AND MITSUBISHI CORPORATE HAVE DENIED MY CLAIM TO OBTAIN THIS SOFTWARE BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SOLD IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY HAVE SAID IT IS NOT ELIGIBLE. I TAKE MY VEHICLE EVERY YEAR UP IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN RANGE WHERE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS ARE SIMILAR TO ANY OF THE NORTHERN STATES WITHIN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. THE MITSUBISHI SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER IS SC-09-002 ALSO AVAILABLE HERE ON GOOGLE DOCS TO READ ( HTTP://DOCS.GO…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10287130 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION X (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE PEDAL FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE STUB WAS STILL INTACT AND HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE STUB. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO HIS AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345390 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2008 LANCER EVOLUTION. THE SERVICE REQUIRED LIGHT FOR THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM CAME ON. I ONLY HAD AROUND 59000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPEN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE AWC PUMP. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $2250 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE. SO I CALLED MITSUBISHI TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PUMP FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. THEY SAID NO SINCE MY 3 YEAR OR 36000 MILE WARRANTY WAS UP. A LOT OF EVOLUTIONS IN COLDER CLIMATES HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE COLD WEATHER MAKES…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384228 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP DIREZZA SPORT ZI TIRES, TIRE SIZE 255/35R18. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE CENTER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED SEVERE TREAD SEPARATION AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396948 at NHTSA ↗

THE SMELL OF RAW FUEL ENGULFING THE INSIDE OF THE CAR MAKING IT NEAR UNBEARABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FEELING DIZZY OR SICK. THIS CAN'T BE SAFE. NO VISIBLE LEAKS AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THIS IS UNSAFE AND I'M ASSUMING CAN LEAD TO A FIRE. IT CAN ALSO INCAPACITATE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS DUE TO THE FUMES WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10417742 at NHTSA ↗

2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION MR CABIN FUEL FUMES / STRONG SMELL. WHEN AIR TEMPERATURES RISE ABOVE 100* THE CAR HAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL, TO THE POINT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50,145 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418324 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN I AM ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70MPH, I HAVE TRIED TO CHECK IT OUT BUT THERE ARE NO APPARENT FUEL LEAKS, MY MECHANIC SUSPECTS THE EVAPORATOR SYSTEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454451 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-09-08 (September 8, 2009)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2009-11-05 (November 5, 2009)

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 2013-09-19 (September 19, 2013)

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 2014-09-12 (September 12, 2014)

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.

Consequence: 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.