Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train26
- Electronic stability control (esc)19
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Equipment adaptive/mobility2
- Suspension1
- Structure1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Tires1
- Seats1
- Unknown or other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution failed the safety check 1.18% of the time — 53% less often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 94,507 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
21 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 48% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €60,589.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel6
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen3
- Stuurkogel te veel speling3
- Retroreflector ontbreekt2
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect2
- Kentekenplaatverlichting straalt licht naar achter2
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht1
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
21 of these cars first registered in 2008 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 196,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 12.4–12.7 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 285–292 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancer Evolution · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.7 | 10.7 | 12.4 |
| Lancer Evolution · Compact · Premium gasoline | 14.5 | 10.6 | 12.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
| 2018588 26 Oct 2018 | Visual System On certain vehicles, water may drain from the windshield cowl area onto the front wiper link ball joint. Over time, this could result in corrosion and/or wear t… |
| 2018054 26 Jan 2018 | Accessories On certain vehicles, the sunroof may not have been bonded properly and could separate from the vehicle. This could pose a risk to other road users, increasing t… |
| 2016382 29 Jul 2016 | Airbag On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage, a mixture of snow, water and road-salt solution may infiltrate between the front impact sensor a… |
| 2014397 15 Sept 2014 | Engine On certain vehicles, the drive belt material may cause abnormal pulley wear. If the vehicle is driven under this condition, the drive belt may become damaged f… |
| 2013316 20 Sept 2013 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the clutch master cylinder may fail, resulting in an inability to disengage the clutch or to shift gears. This could result in unintended v… |
| 2009317 9 Nov 2009 | Airbag On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage, the front impact sensors may corrode between the sensor bushing and sensor bracket. Over time, … |
| 2009260 10 Sept 2009 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel return pipe may develop stress cracking, under certain conditions, allowing a fuel leak to occur. Fuel leakage in the presence of… |
| 2008419 20 Nov 2008 | Label On certain vehicles, the French-language tire pressure label may contain incorrect spare tire information. The specification for the spare tire may be shown as… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10252686 | Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides the replacement procedure for the Differential Mount Bracket Bush of the Rear Axle Differential Carrier Assembly in the applicable Service Manual sections. |
| 10240446 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the transaxle assembly removal and installation of the roll stopper bracket. |
| 10240443 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10235609 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue. |
| 10235608 | This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs. |
| 10235606 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10211530 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part. |
| 10174066 | A service campaign will be launched December 19, 2013 to update the ECM software programming in certain 2008 - 2014 Lancer Evolution, 2009 - 2014 Lancer Ralliart, and 2009 - 2011 Lancer Sportback Ralliart built before September 25, 2013. This service campaign will be conducted in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. A Service Campaign Bulletin outlining the reprogramming procedure will be available December 19, 2013 on MEDIC and MDL. In certain affected vehicles, normal Electric Throttle Valve (ETV) fluctuations may cause actual torque to exceed Permitted Torque at low engine speeds. An improper Permitte |
| 10174064 | This Service Campaign Bulletin provides field fix procedures for reprogramming the ECM with new software to address false MIL illumination with torque monitor P1241 (2008-2010 models) or P061A (2011-2014 models) stored in memory. |
| 10173900 | In cold weather, false MIL illumination may occur on some affected vehicles during turbocharger operation below 3,000 rpm engine speed, due to improper intake air volume judgement parameter. DTCs P1235 (2008-2010 vehicles) or P0068 (2011-2014 vehicles) - Boost/Air Flow Sensor Plausibility may be stored in the ECM. This TSB provides field fix procedures to reprogram the ECM with new software to address false MIL illumination with boost/air flow plausibility monitor DTCs P1235 (2008-2010 models) or P0068 (2011-2014 models) stored in memory. |
| 10172523 | This TSB supercedes TSB-09-42A-015, issued October, 2009, to update affected vehicles, add Outlander Sport and add FAST Key case part numbers. Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) integrated key case and FAST Key Transmitter case repair kits are now available. If the plastic parts of the key are broken or missing, but the key functions properly, use the appropriate service parts kit instead of replacing the entire key assembly. When replacing only the key case, it is not necessary to program immobilizer, RKE and OSS functions. For integrated RKE keys, once the electronic components are transferred to th |
| 10172522 | The Mechatronic assembly (valve body and TCM) and the clutch assembly are now available as service parts. This TSB provides instructions for transmission overhaul that were not included in the service manual. |
| 10172209 | Procedures are now available for W6DGA TC-SST clutch assembly replacement. This TSB provides the necessary steps to complete diagnosis, clutch assembly replacement, and complete "Teach-in" procedures for the TCM. This TSB is used together with the Service Manual, TSB-16-22-003: "TC-SST Transmission and Mechatronic Assembly Diagnosis and Repair," and TSB-13-22-003: "TC-SST Diagnosis and Overhaul - Service Manual Revision," to provide procedures for the complete and accurate diagnosis and repair of the TC-SST transmission. |
| 10170853 | Caution statements regarding the disposal of certain SRS components have been incorrect in the service manuals of affected vehicles. This TSB provides updated caution statements. |
| 10170852 | This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals. |
| 10170851 | Caution statements regarding the disposal of certain components using coin-type lithium batteries have been incorrect in the service manuals of affected vehicles. This TSB provides updated caution statements. |
| 10170848 | Procedures are now available for W6DGA TC-SST Mechatronic Assembly (valve body and transmission control module) replacement. This TSB provides the necessary steps to complete diagnosis, replace the Mechatronic Assembly, and program the new electronic control unit. |
| 10170760 | This TSB clarifies the stop light switch installation and adjustment procedure in the affected service manuals. |
| 10170691 | Some affected vehicles may display ! ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED on the MID and DTC P0012 may be recorded in ECM memory, but the MIL is not illuminated. An incorrect parameter in the judgment criteria may cause mis-detection of a fault even though the timing chain elongation rate remains within the specified allowance. This TSB provides a procedure to reprogram the ECM, confirm the oil control valve and timing chain are not at fault, and reset the timing chain learned value. |
| 10170107 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170106 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170104 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170103 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170102 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170101 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)