The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 5 safety recalls and 28 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (20 complaints).
Recalls5safety recalls
Complaints28filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
NHTSA recall 18V071000 · Jan 26, 2018 · 56,641 vehicles
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.
Risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be unstable.
Risk: Unstable voltage could result in intermittent failure of the vehicle's head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. If the headlights and/or windshield wipers fail, the driver could have reduced visibility. If the tail lights fail, the vehicle could be less visible. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected ECU, free of charge. The recall began on June 15 ,2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-002.
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Fan/motor
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.
Risk: Failure of the blower motor may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-003.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
Problem: 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.
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.
Problem: 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.
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.
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.
Crash test ratings
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4-DR w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Lancer Evolution
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AM6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
Lancer Evolution
18mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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
20
0
0
0
43,000 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)
8
0
0
0
40,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
3
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system › Emission control
3
0
1
0
—
Steering
3
0
0
0
43,000 mi
Service brakes
2
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
—
Electrical system
1
0
0
0
—
Engine
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel/propulsion system
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, 2018 · 15,000 milesService brakes I HAD SOME WARNING LIGHTS COME ON FOR THE ASC AND ABS SYSTEMS BEING DISABLED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ABS PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $3000. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE OF THE BRUSHES IN THE ABS PUMP STICKING. THAT SAME ABS PUMP IS USED IN SOME BMW AND JEEP MODELS WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. THE ASC AND ABS SYSTEMS SEEM LIKE CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU.
Jun 1, 2019 · 41,000 milesPower train TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE AND 'FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DISABLED' DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NIMAY MITSUBISHI (1011 KENNEDY AVE, KILOMETER 2.5, 787-622-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALL WHEEL CONTROL HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Jul 20, 2017 · 46,000 milesEngine BAD INJECTOR CAUSED CYLINDER FAILURE OR VALVR CONSTANT VALVE TICK. BLOWN SPARK PLUGS CAUSED PISTON MELTDOWN CAUSING FOR THE PISTONG ROD TO SHOOT THROUGHT THE BLOCK CAUSE A FIRE TO THE ENGINE.. LUCKLY I STOP THE FIRE TOOK IT TO A DELAERSHIP TO VERIFY THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE BUT THE TECHNICINAS TOLD ME THAT THERES NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE BATTERY DIE THERE FOR IT RESET THE COMPUTER MODULE ERASING ALL THE DATA WITH THE PROBABLE CAUSE AND NOTHING WAS DONE AFTER THAT.. BOUGHT A NEW ENGINE AND NOW AFTER 20,000 MILES I GET THE SAME ISSUE BUT MITSUBISHI DOSE NOT WANNA BE RESPOSIBLE FOR A REPLACE ENGINE TO WHICH THEY REPLACE.
May 15, 2014 · 45,000 milesElectronic stability control (esc) ON-DASH WARNING LIGHT OF "4WD SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED" CAME ON. THIS WARNING IS INDICATIVE OF A ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL (ACD) PUMP FAILURE, GENERALLY DUE TO CORROSION FROM TREATED WINTER ROAD SURFACES AND/OR THE INABILITY TO HANDLE COLD-WEATHER CLIMATES. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) TO DELAY ACTIVATION OF THE ACD PUMP FOR THIS EXACT REASON 2 YEARS PRIOR TO FAILURE. MITSUBISHI HAS YET TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS CURRENTLY REFUSING TO HONOR WARRANTY SERVICE OF FAILED PUMPS UNDER THEIR 5-YEAR / 36,000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, STATING THAT THE PUMP IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE SAFELY AND PROPERLY. IN CONTRAST, A WORKING…
Nov 3, 2016 · 49,000 milesPower train TRANSFER CASE IN THIS CAR OMITS A LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. NOISE INCREASES IN VOLUME THE FASTER THE CAR IS GOING. THIS WHINE IS DUE TO THE WEARING OF THE GEARS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY DESIGN. WHEN THE TRANSFER CASE WHINE HAPPENS, IT HAS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF LOCKING UP WHICH WILL CAUSE ALL WHEELS TO STOP SPINNING POTENTIALLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATH. *TR
Mar 3, 2016 · 104,897 milesElectronic stability control (esc) AYC/ACL PUMP FAILURE. ERROR CODE C161E. SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES FROM OTHER OWNERS.
Jan 1, 2015 · 43,000 milesPower train WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY THE MESSAGE "4WD SYSTEM REQUIRE SERVICE" CAME UP. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED 40K MILES AND NOW IT ONLY HAS 43K MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN MILDLY SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND HAVE NEVER ABUSED THE CAR. I HEARD IT'S CAUSED BY AYC ACD PUMP FAILURE, ACD C161E. *TR
Oct 5, 2014 · 53,000 milesPower train ACD C161E WAS READ IN THE ECU. IT'S AYC ACD PUMP FAILURE. I DIDN'T DRIVE HARD. I DROVE NORMALLY WHICH I USUALLY DO. AND 4WD SERVICE REQUIRED COMES ON. I SEARCHED A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUE. MITSUBISHI SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ABOUT THIS ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR EVO I READ. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.