The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 2 safety recalls and 98 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (70 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints98filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
NHTSA recall 16V458000 · Jun 23, 2016 · 194,674 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
NHTSA recall 04V138000 · Mar 23, 2004 · 7,278 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: OVERLOADING CAN DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLE, ADVERSELY AFFECT VEHICLE PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING HANDLING AND BRAKING, CAUSE TIRE FAILURE, AND RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LABEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Lancer Evolution
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Clutch assembly; Manual transmission
70
0
0
0
7,853 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger
11
0
0
0
15,000 mi
Structure Body; Body › Bumpers
9
0
0
0
80,000 mi
Electrical system Ignition; Wiring
9
0
0
0
56,802 mi
Exterior lighting Headlights
3
0
0
0
—
Visibility Defroster/defogger/hvac system; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Fan/motor
3
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
2
1
0
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline
2
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components
1
0
0
0
—
Equipment Recreational vehicle/trailer
1
0
0
0
—
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 7, 2023 · crashUnknown or other 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…
Mar 20, 2023Structure › Body Corrosion on cross member
Jul 29, 2020 · 80,000 milesStructure › Body 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,…
Mar 1, 2018 · 100,000 milesStructure › Body 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…
Apr 10, 2017 · 145,000 milesStructure › Body 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.
Nov 6, 2016 · 80,000 milesSteering › Column 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.
Mar 12, 2014 · 115,000 milesElectrical system 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
Oct 22, 2004 · 2,000 milesElectrical system 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…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.