2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION

2 recalls, 116 complaints - 64 TSBs

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Defect Description

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, ... Read more

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 repa... Read more

194,674 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Defect Description

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.

7,278 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Complaint Statistics

116 total complaints

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY	44
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION	11
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)	8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	7
STRUCTURE:BODY	5
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)	3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	2
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:BELL HOUSING	2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2

Incident date: Sep 7, 2023

I was parking and my passenger side shaft broke

Incident date: Mar 20, 2023

1997 Ford F150, had recall 25527072 05S28 performed in March of 2006. The switch installed as part of the recall has failed and brake fluid has leaked from the switched and the harness. It is not apparent that the switch is leaking until the harness connector is removed from the switch. The integ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 29, 2020

UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE IN THE REAR, AREAS OF SEVERE CORROSION HAS DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE REAR ON THE ALUMINUM SUBFRAME BAR THAT HOLDS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN PLACE SUCH AS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL & LATERAL CONTROL BARS THAT CAN SURELY COMPROMISE THE CAR... Read more

Incident date: Jul 29, 2020

Incident date: Mar 1, 2018

SEVERE REAR FRAME RAIL UNIBODY RUST. SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE REAR ALUMINUM SUBFRAME MOUNTS TO THE BODY. MY VEHICLE, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OTHER, HAVE SHARED SIMILAR RUST AND ROT FROM THE EXACT SAME LOCATIONS ON 2003-2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTIONS. ABSOLUTELY NO FRAME PROTECTION FOR THE STEEL BODY. ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 10, 2017

WHILE REPLACING FRONT SUB FRAME STRUCTURE UNDER RECALL FOR RUST AND CORROSION, RUST DAMAGE TO THE REAR STRUCTURE WAS NOTED BY DEALER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THERE ARE HOLES IN THE REAR STRUCTURE AS WELL.

Incident date: Nov 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAI... Read more

Incident date: Mar 12, 2014

THE VEHICLES KICK PLATE WHERE ALL THE WIRES CONNECT ARE ALL CORRODED ITS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ALL EVOS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

Incident date: Oct 22, 2004

THE HEATER CONTROL KNOB (HOT/COLD ADJUST) WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS WAS NOTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE MAGAZINE, MOTORTREND, IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE IN ITS REVIEW OF EVO VS STI. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PART WAS KNOWN TO SOMETIMES STICK BUT WOULD BE FINE. ABOUT ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 13, 2011

RANDOM P0300 ERROR PLUS VIBRATION AT 2800 TO 3500 RPM. CONTACTED MITSUBISHI AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A TSB FOR ALL EVO VIII VEHICLES DUE TO A FAULTY INPUT SHAFT. HOWEVER, MITSUBISHI DOES NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 03 MODELS AS IT WOULD BE OUT OF WARRANTY LONG BEFORE THIS ISSUE SHOWS UP.... Read more

Incident date: Oct 22, 2004

Incident date: Feb 5, 2012

I GOT INTO MY CAR TO START AND IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START. AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP, CHECKING ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WIRE HARNESS FUSE BLOCK THAT SITS INSIDE THE DRIVERS FOOT WELL HAS BEEN CORRODED BY WATER FROM A LEAK IN THE FIRE WALL. THIS IS A VERY COM... Read more

Incident date: Feb 5, 2012

Incident date: Jun 15, 2010

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. THE TEMPERATURE KNOB BROKE OFF WHILE ADJUSTING FROM COLD TO WARM. MY CAR IS NOW STUCK WITH THE AC ON COLD, THIS ISN'T SO MUCH OF A PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER BUT IT IS GETTING RATHER COLD NOW AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE SOME HEAT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DEFROS... Read more

Incident date: Mar 30, 2010

MULTIPLE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ACTIVATED SIMPLTANEOUSLY (ABS, SRS, BATTERY, EMERGENCY BRAKE) AT THE SAME TIME THE HORN AND WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED IT WAS QUITE DISORIENTING AND HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN A RAINSTORM! QUITE UNSAFE.

Incident date: Nov 9, 2008

2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. LOUD GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. CARS UNDER 8 THOUSAND MILES HAVING TO REPLACE CLUTCHES AND TRANSMISSIONS. GEARS POPPING INTO NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP ACCEPTED WARRANTY AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE CAR. CAR WAS RETURNED A ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 12, 2006

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS THEN WHEN I STARTED IT UP ONE DAY THE DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS STARTED PULSING. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE ALTERNATOR SO I HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THE SHOP SAID THE ALTERNATOR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THE PULSATING LIGHTS... Read more

Incident date: Dec 12, 2006

Incident date: Jul 15, 2008

THE 5TH GEAR SYNCRO HAS FAILED ON THE CAR AT 60,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO MITSUBISHI AND THEY HAVE DEVELOPED NEW, STRONGER PARTS AS PART OF A TSB. HOWEVER, MITSUBISHI IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE DEFECT CITING "ABUSE". *TR

Incident date: Mar 11, 2008

I HAD JUST ARRIVED FROM WORK AND PULLED-IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WAS IDLING MY CAR BEFORE SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN SWITCHED OFF MY HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON, THEN OFF; AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE HEADLIGHTS FINALLY SWITCHED OFF, BUT THE... Read more

Incident date: Mar 11, 2008

Incident date: Jul 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. AT 65,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WAS BY REMOVING A FUSE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TH... Read more

Incident date: Apr 20, 2006

I BOUGHT MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVO SHORTLY AFTER RETURNING FROM A TOUR IN IRAQ IN 2006, AFTER A SHORT TIME OF DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE CAR WHEN I LET THE CLUTCH OUT IN 1ST GEAR, AND NOW REVERSE AS WELL. I BOUGHT THE CAR UNDER ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY AND WENT AS FAR A... Read more

Incident date: Apr 20, 2006

Incident date: Sep 6, 2007

I LAUNCHED MY CAR FROM ABOUT 5500RPM. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A NEW EXEDY CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL INSTALLED ABOUT 2 MONTHS EARLIER. THE CAR JUMPED BUT WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE AFTER I LET THE CLUTCH OUT. I THOUGHT MAYBE FIRST GEAR WAS GONE BUT WHEN I TRIED ALL THE OTHER GEARS IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2007

I HAVE REPLACED PART #138110 BLOWER MOTOR 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 7 MONTHS. APPARENTLY THERE IS WATER/CONDENSATION THAT BUILDS UP AND SHUTS DOWN THE MOTOR. TODAY, THE MOTOR STOPPED AGAIN. I AM NOW HAVING TO TAKE IT TO BE REPAIRED FOR THE 4TH TIME AND I AM SURE NOT THE LAST TIME. THE FRONT AND REAR ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 1, 2003

MY VEHICLE HAD REPEATEDLY SHOWN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR A MISFIRE CODE. EVERY TIME I GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,THE CAR VIBRATES AND LOSES AT LEAST 45% POWER. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSIS 7 PLUS TIMES. HELL, THEY EVEN REBUILT THE ENGINE IN AN... Read more

Incident date: Mar 7, 2006

I AM CURRENTLY ON THE 5TH TRANSFER CASE FOR MY 03 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 8. I HAD 2 GO OUT UNDER WARRANTY, ANOTHER REBUILT AND NOW I AM ON MY LAST ONE. THE FIRST WENT AT ~33K, REPLACED AND BROKEN WITHIN A MONTH REGULAR HIGHWAY DRIVING. *JB

Incident date: Nov 30, 2006

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION HE TURNED ON THE IGNITION WHILE IN NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER STATED EVERYONE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

Incident date: Dec 8, 2006

WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH MY TRANSFER CASE ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION UNEXPLAINABLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD WHINING NOISE, ALTHOUGH ONLY HAVING ROUGHLY 13,500 MILES. AS I PULLED THE CAR OVER I COULD HERE THAT THERE WAS A METALLIC CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE ALSO. TO CORRECT THIS TH... Read more

Incident date: Dec 6, 2006

AFTER ONLY 8057 MILES ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, MY TRANSFER CASE STARTED TO WHINE QUITE BADLY. AFTER READING SOME TECH ARTICLES, I FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE. I ALSO KNOW THAT MITSUBISHI HAS HAD TRANSFER CASE RECALLS IN THE PAST DUE TO THEIR POOR REAR SEAL DESIGN. THE... Read more

Incident date: Nov 3, 2006

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED. STILL HAS REMAINING FACTORY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAD CLUTCH PROBLEMS WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY OF VEHICLE IN JULY. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER TEST DRIVING VEHICLE. DEALER PROTESTED A REPLACEMENT. HAD SERVICE RECORDS PULLED FOR VEHICLE. CLUTCH WAS REP... Read more

Incident date: Jun 5, 2006

3RD GEAR SYNRO WENT BAD AFTER 32000 MILES. *JB

Incident date: Mar 1, 2004

P0300 MULTI-CYLINDER RANDOM MISFIRE. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS MADE MY MITSUBISHI, THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED. ON AVERAGE, THIS HAPPENS 3-4 TIMES DAILY, EVERYDAY AND HINDERS DRIVEABILITY. MITSUBISHI HAS ISSUED PARTS TO BE WARRANTED AND HAS DENIED ALL RESPONSIBILITY. MITSUBISHI HAS QUOTED THAT THE S... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2006

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BRAKES WHICH SEVERELY LIMITS STOPPING ABILITY. INTERMITTENT SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (45-70 MPH). VIBRATION AND RESULTING LOSS OF TRACTION AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE VERSUS ROAD SURFACE GREATLY ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 14, 2005

03 EVO HEARD GRINDING NOISES IN MY TRANNY OR TRANSFER CASE AREA @ 15K MILES.. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WON'T CHECK IT IF ITS NOT BROKEN..THEY DID REPLACE A DRIVE SHAFT BUT NOISE WAS STILL THERE.. MY CLUTCH IS NOW SLIPPING @ 24K.. *JB

Incident date: Feb 10, 2006

PAINT ON MY 03 EVO BEGAN FLAKING OFF, ROCK CHIPS BY BOTH BACK PASSENGER DOORS, 24K MILES AND I HAVE TOO MANY ROCK CHIPS EVERYWHERE, MY 98 CAVALIER DOESN'T HAVE THIS MANY ROCK CHIPS. *JB

Incident date: May 21, 2005

CLUTCH FAILED AT 16K MILES AFTER 18 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER OFFERED TO EXAMINE IT FOR POSSIBLE WARRANTY COVERAGE, BUT BECAUSE OF PARTICIPATION IN AUTOCROSS EVENTS, THE WARRANTY CLAIM WOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED. HOWEVER, AUTOCROSSING DID NOT CONTRIBUTE ANY SIGNIFICANT WEAR TO THE CLUTCH ANY MOR... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2005

FAILURE OF 5TH GEAR. MITSUBISHI HAS A CURRENT TSB RELEASED ON THIS FAILURE AND DENIED REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY CLAIM WAS DENIED DUE TO THE FACT THAT AN AFTERMARKET CLUTCH, OF HIGHER QUALITY WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AFTER FAILURE OF MANUFACTURER INSTALLED CLUTCH. *JB

Incident date: Feb 15, 2005

SINCE I HAVE HAD MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII I HAVE HAD 4 PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE DRIVETRAIN. FIRST AT 1300 MILES, MY CLUTCH WENT OUT. IT WAS NOT WARRANTED EVEN THOUGH THE MITSUBISHI WARRANTY SAID 12000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. THEN AGAIN AT ABOUT 14000 MILES THE CLUTCH FAILED AGAIN, AND IT ... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2005

I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MIDDLE OF 2003. THE CAR HAD RUN FINE UNTIL ABOUT MAY 12TH OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR STARTED PERFORMING ODDLY. THE TURBO AND ENGINE WOULD NOT PROVIDE FULL POWER AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I WAS INFORM... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2005

Incident date: May 25, 2005

CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AFTER 12,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

Incident date: Feb 15, 2004

THE LOW BEAMS ON THE VEHICLE DO NOT LIGHT FAR ENOUGH AT NIGHT MAKING THE ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD DIFFICULT. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *NM

Incident date: Jan 15, 2005

MY P300 ERROR CODE COMES ON MY LANCER EVOLUTION RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AROUND. *NM

Incident date: Jul 1, 2004

CHRONIC P0300 RANDOM MISFIRE IN 5TH GEAR UNDER PARTIAL THROTTLE. BUILD DATE OF VEHICLE IS FEB 03. *JB

Incident date: Oct 15, 2004

1) I AM IN THE MILITARY DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN... 1 MONTH BEFORE I DEPLOYED MY STOCK CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY MITSUBISHI'S WARRANTY. I WAS READING ON MY FORUMS AND THERE WERE AT LEAST 2 TO 300 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ALL AROUND 5000 MILES ON THE CAR REGARDLESS OF HOW... Read more

Showing 50 of 116 complaints.

EPA Fuel Economy, 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive)	16.0	23.0	19.0	Premium	$4,000

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Compact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION

64 manufacturer communications from 34 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	6
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	5
100000 POWER TRAIN	5
070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	4
060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	4
061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	4
350000 EQUIPMENT	4
162000 STRUCTURE:BODY	3

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

160000 STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

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 veh

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

This TSB provides the addition of Hood Air Outlet Maintenance Procedure due to a change in suppliers.

350000 EQUIPMENT