IllustrationCLUTCH FAILURE. *AK
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lancer Evolution years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
550–25K
1025–50K
350–75K
475–100K
4100–150K
0150K+
76 reports with mileage · 22 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Power Train complaints
65 reportsCLUTCH DEFECTIVE, WENT OUT AT 9000 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE WITH MY OWN MONEY AS DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR WARRENTY ON MY CAR, BUT PROVIDED NO PROOF OR REASON WHY.*AK
SLIPPING CLUTCH WITH ONLY 3500 MILES. *AK
UNDER THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP OF MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, MY CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED MY DEALER AND WENT IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER BUT BEFORE ANY QUESTIONS HE ASSUMED I HAD ABUSED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHECK FOR PROBLEMS IF I PAID…
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UNDER THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP OF MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, MY CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED MY DEALER AND WENT IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER BUT BEFORE ANY QUESTIONS HE ASSUMED I HAD ABUSED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHECK FOR PROBLEMS IF I PAID TO THE COST OF A TEARDOWN BEFORE ANYTHING. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS STILL IN THE "BREAK-IN" PERIOD AND DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY. HE DID NOT CARE AND SAID MANY PEOPLE ABUSE THIS CAR, SO HE STILL WOULD NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND. FURTHERMORE, WHILE BEING AT THE DEALER FOR OTHER PROBLEMS, SOMEONE HAD TAKEN MY CAR FOR 20 MILES WITHOUT ANY EXPLAINATION. I LET HIM KNOW ABOUT THIS AND HE STILL INSISTED THAT I WAS ABUSING THE CLUTCH AND WOULD ONLY ALLOW AN INSPECTION IF I PAID THE LABOR FOR A TEARDOWN FIRST. BASICALLY, THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF MITSUBISHI WAS UNREASONABLE AND WOULD NOT LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS. *AK
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW WITH 26 MILES. 6 MONTHS LATER AND 17000 MILES THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND NOT INGAUGING. IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN MOVE. THE RPM WOULD JUST RAISE, EVEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 6500 IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE CAR NOT RESPONDING. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SHIP HERE IN TOWN WOULD NOT EVEN WANT TO COV…
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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW WITH 26 MILES. 6 MONTHS LATER AND 17000 MILES THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND NOT INGAUGING. IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN MOVE. THE RPM WOULD JUST RAISE, EVEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 6500 IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE CAR NOT RESPONDING. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SHIP HERE IN TOWN WOULD NOT EVEN WANT TO COVER IT OR TOUCH IT.*AK
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ONLY 7,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. 5TH GEAR SYNCHROS WENT BAD. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP SPECIFICALLY ADVISED THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. *AK
CLUTCH SLIPPED. *AK
CLUTCH FAILURE 2 TIMES BEFORE 6000 MILES. 2003 LANCER EVOLUTION.*AK
CLUTCH FAILED UNDER ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING ON FREEWAY. CAR HAS 6300 MILES, 3 MONTHS OLD. DEALER QUOTED ALMOST $1500 FOR REPLACEMENT NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
AFTER PURCHASING NEW 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO8 WITH 1500 DEALER MILES, AN ADDITIONAL 1000 MILES WAS DRIVEN WHEN CLTUCH PROBLEM BEGAN. VERY SERIOUS CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND 12 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA ON FILE. I AM CURRENTLY I…
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AFTER PURCHASING NEW 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO8 WITH 1500 DEALER MILES, AN ADDITIONAL 1000 MILES WAS DRIVEN WHEN CLTUCH PROBLEM BEGAN. VERY SERIOUS CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND 12 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA ON FILE. I AM CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM THINKING IF THEY REPLACE THIS CLUTCH WITH A FACTORY KIT, THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK
Official recalls
216V458000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Jun 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 & remedy
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.
04V138000 · Equipment:other:labels
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.