2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION Recalls, Complaints & Safety

My vehicle was clean title but then it was considered salvage title, it was involved in a car accident on 9/07/2023 . I never knew about the recall because I am not the first owner. how i found out about the recall was because I have to do brake and lamp inspection and it failed on 10/09/2024 so I took the vehicle to Hayward Mitsubishi on 10/15/2024 to get the recall fix and since then they have not contacted me in any way to give me an update I have called them several times and they told me that they have not received the label so I then decided to try a different dealership that's call Concord Kia Mitsubishi Service and Parts they tried to help me out but also mentioned to me that the recall has no part number so there is no way to order it. I have been waiting for this recall to get resolve for two years.

Crash

Corrosion on cross member

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 CARS ABILITY TO DRIVE IF UNNOTICED. ADDITIONALLY THE FUEL LINES ALONG THE GAS TANK, AS WELL SURROUNDING SURFACES ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, HAVE DEVELOPED NOTICEABLE CORROSION AS WELL THAT IS ALSO PROVING TO BE A LARGE AREA OF CONCERN. I AM CERTAINLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THIS AND THE VEHICLES ROAD WORTHINESS BECAUSE OF THESE AREAS. THIS VEHICLE IS BY NO MEANS HEAVILY MODIFIED AT ALL, THE VEHICLE IS NEVER OPERATED BEYOND ITS LIMITATIONS/AGGRESSIVELY AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN GREAT FOR ME AS IS, AND IT RESEMBLES EXACTLY THE WAY IT DID WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY. SOURCING ORIGINAL AND DOT APPROVED REPLACEMENT PARTS HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND IT LEAVES ME AT A STANDSTILL. PLEASE IF THERE ISN'T SOME KIND OF ROAD WORTHY DIRECTIVE IN REGARDS TO THIS I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT CAN CERTAINLY COMPROMISE SAFETY FOR DRIVER IN COMMAND AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADS. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN AND WHOMEVER READING THIS, I HOPE MY INFORMATION CAME OFF CLEAR AND IS CONSIDERED. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME OBSERVE THIS AND MAKING A PROMINENT DECISION. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS UPON REQUEST AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

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. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME FOR RUST THAT CAN ALLOW THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FALL OUT. THE SAME COULD HAPPEN TO THE REAR OF THESE VEHICLES WHERE THE ENTIRE REAR END/DRIVETRAIN AND SUSPENSION COULD FAIL AND FALL OUT, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. ANY PART OF THE US WHERE HIGH HUMIDITY/RAINFALL OR WHERE ROAD SALTS/SOLUTIONS ARE USED ACCELERATE THE CORROSION PROCESS. BEING A UNIBODY VEHICLE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DESIGN FLAW. IT HAPPENS OVER TIME AND DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE TO CONDITIONS. HAPPENS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE REAR FRAME LEGS WHERE THE SUBFRAME MOUNTS.

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.

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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

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

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 3 MONTHS AGO, 12/4/11, THE KNOB COMPLETELY BROKE OFF. THE ISSUE WAS COVERED BY A TSB, HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT STATE THAT THE ISSUE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE A FIX. THIS IS A COMMON CAUSE FAILURE FOR ALL 03 LANCERS AND OUTBACKS. THE MANUFACTURE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL, BUT IS CURRENTLY WAITING UNTIL THE PART COMPLETELY FAILS AND HOPES IT HAPPENS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES SO IT WILL BE COVERED BY THE CUSTOMER. THIS ISSUE CAUSES 2 PROBLEMS. ONE, IF IT IS SELECTED TO COLD, YOU CANNOT DEFROST THE WINDOW UNLESS YOU REACH UNDER THE DASHBOARD TO ADJUST TEMPERATURE, OR, US A PAIR OF PLIERS TO ADJUST THE DIAL, AND THUS CREATING A SIGNIFICANT DRIVING HAZARD. TWO, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT THE KNOB HAS NOT BROKEN OFF, IT CREATES A HAZARD BY FOCUSING THE DRIVERS ATTENTION MORE ON CLIMATE CONTROL AND NOT ON THE ROAD. THE TSB THAT WAS ISSUED DOES FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SO FAR, MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON THEIR DEFECTIVE PART NOR INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS IF A FIX FOR A PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED ISSUE BECOMES AVAILABLE. *TR

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. PROBLEM OCCURS SPORADICALLY AND CAUSES SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER. IN AN ONCOMING PASSING SITUATION, THIS POWER LOSS COULD SERIOUSLY DEGRADE VEHICLE SAFETY. FIX IS EITHER TO REMOVE THE CHECK FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR OR REPLACE THE INPUT SHAFT AT A COST OF ABOUT 4000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MANUFACTURE CHOSE NOT TO ISSUE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS SUCH AS THIS ON THIS DATABOARD. MANUFACTURE DOES NOT INFORM CUSTOMER VOLUNTARILY WHEN A PROBLEM IS NOTED ON THE CAR AND SUBMIT RECOMMENDATION FOR FIX. *TR

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 3 MONTHS AGO, 12/4/11, THE KNOB COMPLETELY BROKE OFF. THE ISSUE WAS COVERED BY A TSB, HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT STATE THAT THE ISSUE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE A FIX. THIS IS A COMMON CAUSE FAILURE FOR ALL 03 LANCERS AND OUTBACKS. THE MANUFACTURE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL, BUT IS CURRENTLY WAITING UNTIL THE PART COMPLETELY FAILS AND HOPES IT HAPPENS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES SO IT WILL BE COVERED BY THE CUSTOMER. THIS ISSUE CAUSES 2 PROBLEMS. ONE, IF IT IS SELECTED TO COLD, YOU CANNOT DEFROST THE WINDOW UNLESS YOU REACH UNDER THE DASHBOARD TO ADJUST TEMPERATURE, OR, US A PAIR OF PLIERS TO ADJUST THE DIAL, AND THUS CREATING A SIGNIFICANT DRIVING HAZARD. TWO, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT THE KNOB HAS NOT BROKEN OFF, IT CREATES A HAZARD BY FOCUSING THE DRIVERS ATTENTION MORE ON CLIMATE CONTROL AND NOT ON THE ROAD. THE TSB THAT WAS ISSUED DOES FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SO FAR, MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON THEIR DEFECTIVE PART NOR INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS IF A FIX FOR A PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED ISSUE BECOMES AVAILABLE. *TR

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 COMMON PROBLEM THAT EVEN GOES BACK TO THE PREVIOUS GENERATION , EVO VII, AND WASN'T FIXED FOR THE FOLLOWING GENERATION, EVO IX. *TR

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 DEFROST IS NOW USELESS UNLESS IT NEEDS TO BE ON COLD WHICH IS PRETTY INEFFECTIVE IN THE WINTER TIME. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING IN 2009 WHERE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND FINALLY IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR IT COMPLETELY BROKE. *TR

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.

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 2ND TIME TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN. *TR

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 IS STILL GOING ON, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

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

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 THEN, THE HEADLIGHTS, PARKLIGHTS, MARKERS AND EVEN THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF AND PULLED OUT THE KEY, BUT JUST BEFORE THIS INCIDENT I USED MY WIPERS TO CLEAR MY WINDSHIELD OF RAIN/MIST WITH A ONE WIPE/MANUAL SWEEP AND THE WIPERS JUST SEEMED THAT IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP WIPING UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF AND THE KEY PULLED OUT. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT AND IT WAS RAINING OR HAD JUST RAINED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED BOTH LIGHT AND WIPER SWITCHES AFTER DETERMINING THAT THERE WAS A SHORT. THIS SEEMED TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. THEN ON APRIL 28, 2008 I HAD JUST ARRIVED AT WORK AND WAS IDLING MY CAR BEFORE SWITCHING THE IGNITION OFF, AS I SWITCHED OFF THE LIGHTS THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF CONTINUOUSLY. IF THE LIGHTS WERE LEFT IN THE ON OR PARK POSITION, THE HORN WOULD STOP, BUT WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF, IT DIDN'T STOP GOING OFF EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS OFF AND THE KEY PULLED OUT. IT ONLY STOPPED AFTER THE FUSE WAS PULLED OUT. AGAIN, THE WEATHER WAS RAINING OR HAD JUST RAINED. I THEN DROPPED OFF MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THAT WATER INTRUSION THROUGH THE DRIVER'S FRONT KICK PANEL TO JUNCTION BLOCK, INSTRUMENT HARNESS, FLOOR HARNESS AND CHASSIS HARNESS. CORROSION ON PINS AND CONNECTORS CAUSING FAILURES AND SHORTS TO ALL SYSTEMS. THEY HAD AN OUTSIDE VENDOR SEAL AROUND WIRING HARNESS BEHIND INNER FENDER WELL. AT THIS POINT NONE OF THE WIRINGS NOR HARNESS WERE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD ALL BE CUSTOMER PAY AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS I HAVE EXCEEDED THE 3/36 WARRANTY PERIOD. WIPERS HORN AND REMOTE UN/LOCK DON'T WORK. *TR

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 THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CORRODED WIRING HARNESS. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY, BUT THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HIGH BEAMS, FOG LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS FAILED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT FIVE WIRING HARNESSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

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 AS TO PURCHASE THE PLATNUM EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER REPLACING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PARTS ON MY CAR IT HAS COME DOWN TO THE CLUTCH, WHICH IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED. THE MORE DISTURBING PORTION OF THIS IS THAT I WAS TOLD ON MY SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH AN AFTERMARKET CLUTCH, AND THAT SHOULD HAVE VOIDED THE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY IN THE FIRST PLACE, TO INCLUDE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AS WELL. NOW I AM STUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE TO LOOK FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE. *TR

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. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A LOCAL PERFORMANCE SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING MY TRANSFER CASE. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE NEW OEM TRANSFER CASE WITH FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND LABOR TO PUT IT IN WAS AROUND 3400. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO ACT ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT AND HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES FROM EVO OWNERS ABOUT THEIR TRANSFER CASE ISSUES. *TR

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 PASSENGER FLOOR AREAS ARE SOAKING WET. I PUT A NEW TOWEL ON FLOOR AREAS EVERY DAY AND THEY ARE DRIPPING WET BY THE END OF THE DAY. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE EXACT PROBLEM IS. IT IS DANGEROUS NOT TO HAVE A FAN FOR DEFROST/DEFOG ISSUES. I WENT ALL WINTER LAST WINTER WITHOUT ANY HEAT/DEFROST. I AM SO TIRED OF REPLACING THIS PART. THE REPAIRS ARE REALLY TAKING A TOLL ON MY FINANCES TOO. IT IS VERY INCONVENIENT TO HAVE TO KEEP TAKING THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED. *JB

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 ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM! THAT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

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

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.

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 THE TRANSFER CASE WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *NM

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 RECALLS WERE BASED OFF OF LAWSUITS AND DEATHS TO INDIVIDUALS DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ALL FOUR WHEELS HAVE LOCKED ON THEM CAUSING CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. BASED ON MITSUBISHI'S TRACK RECORD, AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS UNDER TRANSFER CASE FAILURE, IT IS A NEGLIGENT ACT FOR THEM TO OVERLOOK THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL IS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY! *JB

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 REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FOR FIRST OWNER. DEALER REPLACED DISC AND PRESSURE PLATE. LEFT ASSEMBLY LINE THROWOUT BEARING ON VEHICLE. STATED THAT IT IS A "NON-WEAR" ITEM. THROWOUT BEARING FAILED TO DISENGAGE CAUSING DISC FRICTION MATERIAL TO BE "SPUN" SOME TIME BACK. DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THIS INCIDENT. AGAIN, PROTESTED REPLACEMENT STATING IT IS A "NON-WARRANTY ITEM". CLUTCH IS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM, EVEN THOUGHT IT IS THE INTEGRAL LINK IN THE POWERTRAIN ASSEMBLY. CLUTCH COMPLETELY FAILED AND LEFT THIS AUTHOR STRANDED 45 MILES FROM HOME, ON THIS DATE. DEALER AGAIN NOTIFIED AND ONCE AGAIN, I WAS DENIED A CLAIM. *JB

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

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 SES (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) IN NO WAY, WHEN ILLUMINATED, AFFECTS DRIVEABILITY, VALUE, MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE. THEREFORE, IN SHORT, THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT THE LIGHT IS JUST FOR SHOW. I HAVE WRITTEN PROOF FROM MITSUBISHI WITH THAT STATEMENT DENYING ALL CLAIMS AND NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *NM

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 REDUCES STOPPING CAPABILITY OF VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM ALSO APPEARS TO NEGATIVELY EFFECT ABS OPERATION SINCE SMOOTH BRAKING CANNOT BE APPLIED AND THEREFORE ABS WILL NOT ENGAGE IN MOST INSTANCES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES BY DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN SLOW AND UNCOOPERATIVE IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO FORWARDED THE DEALER AND THE REGIONAL SERVICE DIRECTOR COPIES OF POSTINGS ON SEVERAL VEHICLE/MAKE RELATED WEB FORUMS (E.G. EVOLUTIONM.NET) DESCRIBING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING IN THIS VEHICLE ACROSS THE US. *NM

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

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

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 MORE SO THAN NORMAL EVERY DAY DRIVING. AS A 25 YEAR, SEASONED DRIVER OF MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THIS WAS THE FIRST CLUTCH I'VE EVER HAD FAIL ON A VEHICLE. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM OTHER EVO OWNERS, VIA THE EVOLUTIONM.NET WEB SITE, I REPLACED THE CLUTCH WITH A NON-STOCK CLUTCH DUE TO THE INHERENT WEAKNESS OF THE STOCK PART. *NM

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

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 WAS STILL NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM. FINALLY AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AROUND THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL BLEW, CAUSING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. FORTUNATELY THAT WAS WARRANTED, ALTHOUGH I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR A THIRD CLUTCH. I WAS WITH OUT MY CAR FOR OVER A MONTH WHILE I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND A TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE MINE. *JB

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 INFORMED BY MECHANICS THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A VACUUM LINE LEAK OR HOSE LEAK. ACTING ON THEIR ADVICE, I PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP REPLACEMENT FACTORY VACUUM HOSES AND REPLACED THEM ON THE CAR. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I THEN DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BEING THAT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. DURING THIS TIME THE ENGINE HAD ALSO PICKED UP A SLIGHT TICKING SOUND. AFTER TWO DAYS I WAS CONTACTED SAYING THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM OTHER THAN MY INTERCOOLER HOSES BEING A LITTLE LOOSE FROM HAVING REMOVED AND REPLACED THEM TO DO THE HOSE INSTALL. I WAS THEN CHARGED 200$ FOR LABOR. I PICKED THE CAR UP AND IMMEDIATELY UPON HEADING HOME COULD FEEL THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE/TURBO AND TICKING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IMMEDIATELY AND LET THE SERVICE MANAGER HEAR THE TICKING AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE CAR WAS STILL HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. HE ASKED ME TO BRING IT BACK ON MONDAY AND THEY WOULD THEN ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP THAT MONDAY AND WAS NOT CONTACTED UNTIL I CALLED THEM ON THURSDAY ONLY TO BE TOLD MY WARRANTY WAS NOT BEING HONORED BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD BEEN 'MESSING AROUND' NEAR THE TURBO (THE LOCATION THE VACUUM LINES WERE REPLACED). I INFORMED THEM WHY THEY WOULD SEE THAT AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO OPEN A CASE WITH MMNA TO APPEAL THEIR DECISION. THAT APPEAL WAS ALSO REJECTED AS THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT LOCATION WOULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I HAD TO SAY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I AM LEFT WITH HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET NOW TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX A PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

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

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

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

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

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 THE CAR WAS DRIVEN. I PURCHASED A NEW CLUTCH, $1300 AND HAD THE DEALERSHIP INSTALL IT FOR $800 FIGURING THAT THEY WOULD WARRANTY THERE WORK. I DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN, CAME BACK AND ABOUT 2 MONTHS OF DRIVING THE CAR MY CAR WAS MAKING A HI SQUEALING NOISE. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CLUTCH. ALTHOUGH THEY DID NO OTHER INSPECTION. I ORDERED A NEW CLUTCH HAD THEM INSTALL IT... SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED. SO I PAID ANOTHER 700 FOR A NEW CLUTCH FOR NO REASON. THEN THEY REDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THEY REPLACED THAT UNDER WARRANTY... PROBLEM WAS FIXED. I WAS BABYING THE CAR FOR A WEEK OR SO BECAUSE OF THE CLUTCH BREAK IN PERIOD IS SUGGESTED 1000 MILES. WHILE DOING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR NOISE CAME BACK JUST AS BAD AS BEFORE... CALLED MITSUBISHI AND THEY REFUSED REPAIR BY ORDER OF THE DISTRICT REP. 2. THE NOISE HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND HAS CAUSED MY CAR TO BE SLUGGISH NOW. I WOULD LIKE MY DRIVETRAIN TO HAVE A THOROUGH INSPECTION AND FIXED WHERE NECESSARY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY CLUTCH THAT I HAD TO BUY THAT WASN'T FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH. I ALSO THINK MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO ADHERE TO A WARRANTY ON THERE DRIVETRAIN. REGARDLESS IF YOU INSTALL AN AFTERMARKET CLUTCH IN YOUR CAR, THE DRIVETRAIN SHOULD BE COVERED. WHO IN THERE RIGHT MIND WOULD PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW STOCK CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL IF ITS JUST GOING TO GO BAD AT THE SAME TIME YOU NEED YOUR OIL CHANGE. *NM