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
What owners actually said
98 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2004
Power Train
I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 8 FROM ANTWERPEN MITSUBISHI IN RANDALLSTOWN,MD AND I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FO A BETTER BUYING EXPIERENCE,THAT IS UNTILL MY CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP....I BOUGHT IT ONLY 3 MONTHS AGO W/183 MILES ON IT(EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRACT SAID IT HAD 83 MILES ON IT)AND AT ABOUT 2200 MILES MY CLUTCH S…
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I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 8 FROM ANTWERPEN MITSUBISHI IN RANDALLSTOWN,MD AND I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FO A BETTER BUYING EXPIERENCE,THAT IS UNTILL MY CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP....I BOUGHT IT ONLY 3 MONTHS AGO W/183 MILES ON IT(EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRACT SAID IT HAD 83 MILES ON IT)AND AT ABOUT 2200 MILES MY CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP .I FOUGHT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR DAYS AND THEY JUST DENIED THE CLAIM STATEING THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 350.00 TO HAVE THE CLUTCH INSPECTED TO EVEN SEE IF IT COULD BE WARRENTED BUT ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER IT WAS MORE THEN LIKELY DUE TO ABUSE AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERD I AM NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND LET MITSUBISHI STEAL FROM US I BELIEVE THEY PUT A CHEAP CLUTCH IN THE CAR TO LOWER THE COST OF PRODUCTION TO KEEP THE PRICE OF THE CAR DOWN SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS SO NOW I AM FORCED TO PAY OVER $1000.00 TO HAVE A REAL CLUTCH PUT IN SO IF YOU OTHER EVO OWNERS OUT THERE FEEL LIKE I DO CONTACT A LAWYER LIKE I AM GOING TO TO ASAP!!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10079237
2,500 miles · Jul 1, 2004
Power Train
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10080296
13,000 miles · Jul 1, 2004
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
ECU REGISTERS P0300 (MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE) OBDII ERROR CODE. ERROR CODE IS THROWN, SES LIGHT COMES ON, AND CAR STUMBLES UNTIL THROTTLE IS RELEASED. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS AT LIGHT THROTTLE OR CRUISING (STEADY) THROTTLE. IT CAN OCCUR UNDER LOAD (ACCELERATION) BUT NEVER OCCURS ON DECELERATION. KNOWN FACETS OF THIS PROB…
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ECU REGISTERS P0300 (MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE) OBDII ERROR CODE. ERROR CODE IS THROWN, SES LIGHT COMES ON, AND CAR STUMBLES UNTIL THROTTLE IS RELEASED. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS AT LIGHT THROTTLE OR CRUISING (STEADY) THROTTLE. IT CAN OCCUR UNDER LOAD (ACCELERATION) BUT NEVER OCCURS ON DECELERATION. KNOWN FACETS OF THIS PROBLEM THUS FAR ARE: 1) MITSUBISHI IS AWARE OF 2 ISSUES: STICKY (DIRTY) INJECTORS AND A TRANSMISSION HARMONIC RESONANCE, WHICH THROWS THE KNOCK SENSOR 2) THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE WHEN THIS OCCURS UNTIL THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED. 3) MY VEHICLE IN PARTICULAR IS ALMOST 100% UNDRIVEABLE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM RECURRING EVERY 10-15 SECONDS DURING ANY SORT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING PERIOD. 4) IT _IS_ A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, ONLY TO BE MET WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE A WALL WHEN THE ERROR CODE IS THROWN AND THE ECU RETARDS THE TIMING BECAUSE IT IS DETECTING KNOCK (WHICH IS NOT ACTUALLY OCCURRING). 5) MITSUBISHI (MMNA) IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF AN ECU REFLASH FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM (THE HARMONIC RESONANCE ISSUE, NOT THE INJECTOR ISSUE). THEY HAVE CLAIMED THAT THE FLASH WILL BE OUT "WITHIN 3-6 WEEKS" SINCE NOVEMBER 2003, AND IT IS STILL NOT OUT NOR AVAILABLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS HELD UP IN EPA CERTIFICATION. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FOR ME LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TIMES, AND NO DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE MITSUBISHI WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY WARRANTY WORK ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, CITING THAT "A FIX IS ALREADY ON THE WAY, WAIT FOR IT." *NM
NHTSA ODI #10079147
3,000 miles · Jul 1, 2004
Power Train
PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR ON NEW VEHICLE. EXPERIENCING CLUTCH SLIPPAGE AT 3000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY MANY OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER (MITSUBISHI) HAS NOT EQUIPPED THE VEHICLE WITH A STRONG ENOUGH CLUTCH. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10079136
3,200 miles · Jul 1, 2004
Power Train
THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND HAS 3200 MILES ON IT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10079135
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2004
Power Train
LOUD NOISES WHEN DECELARATING, VERY CHATTERY WHEN DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10079042
19,000 miles · Jun 22, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
1. THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY STOCK AND DRIVEN BY AN ADULT WHO DOES NOT RACE OR ABUSE ANY OF THE CARS MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. 2. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS WITH A OBD-II 'ENGINE WARNING' CODE CELL 0300 I REPEATEDLY GET WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I EXPERIENCE THIS WARNING UP TO 5 TIMES A DAY DURING MY 20 MILE FREEWAY COMMUTE. THE CEL WA…
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1. THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY STOCK AND DRIVEN BY AN ADULT WHO DOES NOT RACE OR ABUSE ANY OF THE CARS MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. 2. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS WITH A OBD-II 'ENGINE WARNING' CODE CELL 0300 I REPEATEDLY GET WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I EXPERIENCE THIS WARNING UP TO 5 TIMES A DAY DURING MY 20 MILE FREEWAY COMMUTE. THE CEL WARNING COMES ON MOST OFTEN DURING VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION INPUTS (5-15% THROTTLE) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN SPEED WITH THE OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. WHILE GENTLY TOUCHING THE THROTTLE, THERE IS A SUDDEN AND VIOLENT ENGINE MISFIRING THAT SLOWS THE CAR DOWN CONSIDERABLY. THIS MAKES ME A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AGAIN UNTIL I LET OFF THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY THEN JAB IT VIOLENTLY (50% OR MORE THROTTLE). THIS ERROR REPEATS EACH TIME I USE GENTLE THROTTLE INPUTS ON THE FREEWAY. AS A RESULT, I DRIVE AROUND WITH MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT LIT ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME. IN THE STATE OF CA, IF YOUR ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WHEN YOU GO FOR YOUR ANNUAL SMOG/EMISSIONS TEST, YOU ARE INSTANTLY FAILED! MY CAR WOULD FAIL AN EMISSIONS TEST IN THIS STATE BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. 3. I APPROACHED THE DEALER WITH THIS ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE COIL PACKS AND THE SPARK PLUGS TO SEE IF THAT WOULD FIX THINGS. AND WHILE THEY WERE VERY CORDIAL ABOUT FINDING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND FIXING IT UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX MY CAR. THEY ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE ECU TO THROW THIS ERROR CODE. SO I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A 1 YEAR OLD CAR THAT IS STILL SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CREATING A ROLLING ROADBLOCK WHEN SHUDDERING, AND IS AN INSTANT FAIL WHEN IT COMES TIME TO DO A SMOG CHECK. THIS PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY EFFECTS THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE AND THE RESALE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE AND NEEDS TO ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10078606
12,195 miles · Jun 22, 2004
Power Train
ON JUNE 1ST THE CLUTCH FAILED COMPLETELY IT WAS COMPOSED OF THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND THEN EXPLODING. THIS CAR WAS NOT ABUSED AND FROM THE 3RD DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING. I TRIED TO GET THE FACTORY TO DO SOMTHING ABOUT IT THEN BUT HAD NO LUCK. I WAS TOLD I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. I ENDED UP…
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ON JUNE 1ST THE CLUTCH FAILED COMPLETELY IT WAS COMPOSED OF THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND THEN EXPLODING. THIS CAR WAS NOT ABUSED AND FROM THE 3RD DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING. I TRIED TO GET THE FACTORY TO DO SOMTHING ABOUT IT THEN BUT HAD NO LUCK. I WAS TOLD I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. I ENDED UP PAYING FOR THE CLUTCH REPLACEMENT OUT OF POCKET ANYWAY NOW THEY ARE THREATENING TO VOID MY WARRANTY BECAUSE I DIDNT REPLACE IT WITH THEIR STOCK REPLACEMENT! AFTER THE CLUTCH REPLACEMENT THE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION IS GIVING ME TROUBLES AFTER ONLY 700 MILES. THE DEALER THAT I HAD THE CLUTCH REPAIR DONE THEN REFERED ME TO ANOTHER DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. IT HAS DEVELOPED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE THAT STARTS ABOUT 40MPH IT SOUNDS LIKE A WWII BOMB SHELTER WARNING SIREN. THIS HAS BEEN A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10078593
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2004
Power Train
POWERTRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10078526
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2004
Power Train
MY CLUTCH JUST GOES OUT AT 2K AND MITSUBISHI DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY SAY ITS BURN. *AK
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year