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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, most often about the transmission (72% of complaints, typically around 48,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Lancer Evolution model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems
Transmission
26 complaints · 72%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles.
Saturday morning I warmed up my car for 5 minutes. Started to drive my car for about 15 seconds, AWD service required popped up on my display. I stopped the car and brought it back home. Looked up what the issue could be and found out that the acd pump has failed. This is a well known problem from Mitsubishi for these…
Went to dealer for transmission check and after a mile awc light came on they said it had nothing to do with computer update they did.mind you my tranny was going bad and dealer did not want nothing to do with it even under warranty.
Stability control
19 complaints · 53%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles.
Saturday morning I warmed up my car for 5 minutes. Started to drive my car for about 15 seconds, AWD service required popped up on my display. I stopped the car and brought it back home. Looked up what the issue could be and found out that the acd pump has failed. This is a well known problem from Mitsubishi for these…
Went to dealer for transmission check and after a mile awc light came on they said it had nothing to do with computer update they did.mind you my tranny was going bad and dealer did not want nothing to do with it even under warranty.
Fuel system
3 complaints · 8%The smell of raw fuel engulfing the inside of the car making it near unbearable to drive without feeling dizzy or sick. This can't be safe. No visible leaks and the dealer cannot figure out why this is happening. This is unsafe and I'm assuming can lead to a fire. It can also incapacitate the driver and passengers due…
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution mr cabin fuel fumes / strong smell. When air temperatures rise above 100* the car has a strong fuel smell, to the point of not being able to safely drive the car due to the fuel smell inside the passenger cabin.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls
Engine: belts and associated pulleys
Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on october 15, 2014. Owners may contact mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is sr-14-009.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: manual transmission
Risk: Failure of the clutch master cylinder reduces the ability to shift the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected clutch master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on november 12, 2013. Owners may contact mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's campaign number for this recall is sr-13-009.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: This coating over time may cause corrosion of the sensor. In the event of a vehicle crash of the type that would deploy the airbags this type of short-circuit may cause a delay in the deployment of the airbags which could result in driver or passenger injury.
Fix: Dealers will install new front airbag sensors that have improved corrosion resistance. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 27, 2009. Owners may contact mitsubishi customer relations department at 1-888-648-7820.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: delivery
Risk: If this stress crack develops, fuel leakage may occur. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: The fuel return pipe will be replaced with a new part and two additional attachment brackets will be installed to better control fuel pipe vibration. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on september 29, 2009. Owners may contact mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (26 complaints, typically around 48,000 miles); stability control (19 complaints, typically around 48,000 miles); fuel system (3 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 12, 2014 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Lancer Evolution model year since 2000, with 36 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.