IllustrationMY MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION 8 CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING AT APPROX. 12,000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALER AND I WAS DENIED A WARRANTY CLAIM. I NEVER DONE IT HARD OR EVEN TOOK IT TO A RACE TRACK. *AK
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Lancer Evolution years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
550–25K
1025–50K
350–75K
475–100K
4100–150K
0150K+
76 reports with mileage · 22 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Power Train complaints
65 reportsCLUTCH FAILURE AT RIGHT AROUND 10,000 MILES.*AK
CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AFTER 4800 MILES, HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED, $1125. *AK
I'VE OWNED MY 03 MITSU EVOLUTION VIII FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE PUT 16,700 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING AND IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE IT WILL REQUIRE 8 HOURS OF LABOR AND A BETTER CLUTCH JUST TO GET IT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WITH IN REASON T…
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I'VE OWNED MY 03 MITSU EVOLUTION VIII FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE PUT 16,700 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING AND IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE IT WILL REQUIRE 8 HOURS OF LABOR AND A BETTER CLUTCH JUST TO GET IT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WITH IN REASON TO BABY THIS THING. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
FAILURE OF CLUTCH AT AROUND 6,000 MILES ON A 03' MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. MITSUNISHI CLAIMS UNDER WARRANTY THAT IT IS COVERED UP TO 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE CLUTCH OR CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I COMMUNICATED WITH THE HEAD OF SERVICE SHOP AND HE COMMUNICATED THAT MITSUBISHI MOTORS…
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FAILURE OF CLUTCH AT AROUND 6,000 MILES ON A 03' MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. MITSUNISHI CLAIMS UNDER WARRANTY THAT IT IS COVERED UP TO 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE CLUTCH OR CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I COMMUNICATED WITH THE HEAD OF SERVICE SHOP AND HE COMMUNICATED THAT MITSUBISHI MOTORS HAD STATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER PROBLEM. AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS I DIDN'T RECIEVE ANY HELP AND WAS FORCED TO REPLACE BAD PART MYSELF FOR OVER $2000 W/LABOR. I HAVE SEEN THIS IN NUMEROUS EVOLUTIONS WITH THEM EVEN GOING OUT UNDER 1000 MILES. OUT OF 6 FRIENDS THAT OWN THE SAME CAR 5 HAVE HAD TO REPLACE CLUTCH AND ALL UNDER 7000 MILES.*AK
PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR AND FAILURE. ON MY VEHICLE, A MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII, THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AT 5700 MILES FROM PURCHASE. THE CLUTCH FAILURE OCCURED FROM NORMAL USAGE, AND THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN OTHER EVOLUTIONS AS WELL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AS IT CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE…
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PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR AND FAILURE. ON MY VEHICLE, A MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII, THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AT 5700 MILES FROM PURCHASE. THE CLUTCH FAILURE OCCURED FROM NORMAL USAGE, AND THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN OTHER EVOLUTIONS AS WELL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AS IT CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERABLE.*AK
2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION CLUTCH DEFECTIVE AT 5500 MILES. ALSO 3RD GEAR SYNCHO IS GONE. VERY WEAK CLUTCH. *LA
I HAD BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW ON JANUARY 10TH, 2004 WITH ABOUT 300 MILES ON THE CAR ALREADY FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM FRED BEANS MITSUBISHI. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT BEEN HARD ON MY CAR AT ALL. BUT ABOUT 2,500 MILES ON THE CAR, MY CLUTCH STARTED TO STICK AND I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I REPORTED IT TO MITSUBISHI AND I WAS…
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I HAD BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW ON JANUARY 10TH, 2004 WITH ABOUT 300 MILES ON THE CAR ALREADY FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM FRED BEANS MITSUBISHI. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT BEEN HARD ON MY CAR AT ALL. BUT ABOUT 2,500 MILES ON THE CAR, MY CLUTCH STARTED TO STICK AND I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I REPORTED IT TO MITSUBISHI AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL THING THESE CAR'S DO. ON MARCH 6TH 2004 I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN THE BOULEVARD, WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN I AM STARTING TO PULL AWAY IN MY CAR, THE CLUTCH STICKS DOWN ALL THE WAY AND WOULD NOT RELEASE BACK. I HAD TO SCOOP MY FOOT UNDER IT AND MANUALLY PULL IT BACK. I BARELY GOT IT HOME BEFORE THE CLUTCH TOTALLY DIED ON ME. I TOOK IT TO MITSUBISHI THAT FOLLOWING WEEKEND AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE CLUTCH BECAUSE THEY SAY ALL OF US YOUNGSTERS ABUSE CARS AND THAT WE WILL NOT WARRANTY THE PART. SO I HAD TO GO AND SPEND NEARLY $800 TO BUY A NEW CLUTCH AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. I DON'T FEEL THAT I WAS TREATED RIGHT AND FOR THE CAR TO HAVE A CLUTCH GO THAT FAST, IT MUST OF BEEN A DEFECT. BUT THEY JUST WANTED MY MONEY. *LA
I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND MY CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 3000 MILES COSTING NEARLY 1500 DOLLARS AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MITSUBISHI. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A AFTERMARKET CLUTCH I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH AS OF YET AND IT HAS 17000 MILES ON IT. *LA
THE CLUTCH IS SHUTTERING / CHATTERING WHEN PULLING FROM A STOP IN 1ST AND MORE SO IN REVERSE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING MILDLY WHEN NEW AND IS NOW MUCH WORSE AT 7000 MILES. IN REVERSE THE SHAKING AND SHUTTERING IS OFTEN SO BAD I MUST PUSH THE CLUTCH BACK IN AND START OVER. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. *LA
Official recalls
216V458000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Jun 23, 2016
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.
Consequence & remedy
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 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.
04V138000 · Equipment:other:labels
Mar 23, 2004
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.