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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 27.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

61 reports with mileage · 30 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
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98,000 miles · Aug 28, 2024
Electrical SystemPower Train

The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after a while the system would erase any safety information used to track mileage and only show the GPS feature on the digital screen with information from 2004. The contact stated he used the digital screen for the safety features. Upon further inspection, the b…

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The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after a while the system would erase any safety information used to track mileage and only show the GPS feature on the digital screen with information from 2004. The contact stated he used the digital screen for the safety features. Upon further inspection, the battery would be drained at an abnormal rate while using the Bluetooth features, and the Bluetooth would not work outside of the local dealer parking lot. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the digital screen and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #11611449

120,000 miles · Oct 9, 2020
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsStructureCrash

MY SRS LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID IT WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND IS ONLY TO REMOVE THE LIGHT...BUT THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD STILL DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE WERE REAR-ENDED (WHIC…

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MY SRS LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID IT WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND IS ONLY TO REMOVE THE LIGHT...BUT THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD STILL DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE WERE REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS) BUT IT PUSHED US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US (WHICH SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS). SEEING AS THIS LIGHT JUST CAME ON WAY BEFORE ANY ACCIDENTS AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANYTHING WE DID, I BELIEVE IT TO BE FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING. YET, MITSUBISHI HAS NEVER BEEN PUSHED TO MAKE THEIR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FLAW INTO A SAFETY RECALL AND EXPECTS TO JUST MAKE MONEY OFF MITUBISHI OWNERS COMING IN TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11363572

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

IN 2015 MY 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER DID NOT PASS CA STATE SMOG. MY LOCAL MECHANIC DID THE NECESSARY TESTS AS DIRECTED BY THE LOCAL STATE REFEREE, THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE 02 SENSOR. ENDED UP BEING DIRECTED BY REFEREE TO MITSUBISHI OF EL CAJON AND PAID $125.00 FOR THEM TO TEST IT. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE…

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IN 2015 MY 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER DID NOT PASS CA STATE SMOG. MY LOCAL MECHANIC DID THE NECESSARY TESTS AS DIRECTED BY THE LOCAL STATE REFEREE, THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE 02 SENSOR. ENDED UP BEING DIRECTED BY REFEREE TO MITSUBISHI OF EL CAJON AND PAID $125.00 FOR THEM TO TEST IT. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEN WAS TOLD TO MAKE APPT WITH THE REFEREE ON YET ANOTHER DAY FOR THEM TO TEST IT AND ENDED UP RECEIVING A 2YR PASS BECAUSE THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT COMPLETE RUN TEST. REPORT STATES: FAILED DUE TO VEHICLE OBD SYSTEM HAS NOT SET THE READINESS MONITOR(S). I DID NIT HAVE TJE MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE IN 2015 SO HAD TO KEEP IT PARKED UNTIL NOV 2016 FROM WHICH POINT THE ABOVE WAS DONE. NOW ITS 2YRS LATER IT'S STILL NOT PASSING. REFEREE HAS ONCE AGAIN REFERRED ME TO MITS MOTORS, NOTING THAT RECENTLY ALL OTHER TYPES OF MITS MODELS WITH SAME ISSUE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED AND THAT THEY WILL NOT ISSUE ANOTHER PASS TO ME EVEN THO MY CAR WASN'T ON A RECALL LIST THAT BECAUSE SO MANY OF MITS MODELS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE, THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. MITS STATES THAT TODAY, ON THIS DAY OF OCT. 8TH 2018 THAT I MUST STILL PAY ANOTHER $125.00 FOR INSPECTION. IF AND ONLY THEY FIND THAT THIS SAME ISSUE FROM ACTUALLY 3YRS AGO IS ON A TBS LIST, THAT ONLY THEN WILL THEY COVER PARTS AND SERVICE. I LIVE ON A VERY TIGHT BUDGET AND HAD TO DRIVE CLEAR FROM OCEANSIDE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AGAIN. I FEEL LIKE IM GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND BEING COMPLETELY SWINDLED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP DEALING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE WITH I KEEP MY CAR TOTALLY MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASES AND ALL OIL CHANGES EVERY 3 MONTHS. THIS PROBLEM WAS ON THE THE TSB LIST FOR MANY OF MITSUBISHI'S OTHER MODELS AND THEY WERE DIRECTED BY THE STATE TO FIX THE ISSUES FREE OF CHARGE. BUT IM STILL REQUIRED TO CONTINUE JUMPING THRU HOOPS AND PAYING OUT OF POCKET. WHY? CAR RUNS FINE!

NHTSA ODI #11139030

95,000 miles · Mar 28, 2016
Electrical System

BLOWER MOTOR HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. BLOWER MOTORS ON LATER MANUFACTURED VEHICLES WERE RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR MAY FAIL. THIS VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SAME SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED AS THAT RECALL BUT IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE.

NHTSA ODI #10852109

13,000 miles · Jul 1, 2008
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

MY SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSE UNCONTROLLABLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO THE ABS LIGHT LIT UP. UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND HE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. THREE WEEKS LATER AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, I WENT TO GO START THE CAR AND THE CAR WOUL…

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MY SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSE UNCONTROLLABLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO THE ABS LIGHT LIT UP. UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND HE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. THREE WEEKS LATER AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, I WENT TO GO START THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP AND SOME OF MY ELECTRIC STOP WORKING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER TWO DAYS OF DIAGNOSTICS THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH A WIRING HARNESS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THE DEALER THAT THE ABS WAS THE REASON WE HAD THE ACCIDENT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT WAS WHEN THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM STARTED. THERE WAS A BILL FOR $423 THAT WE HAD TO PAY BECAUSE THE DEALER INSISTED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. I WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH MITSUBISHI TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE RECTIFIED. ALSO I DO HOPE SOMEONE WILL INVESTIGATE THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY UNNERVING TO HIT THE BRAKES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232892

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2007
Electrical System

I HAD PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER IN APRIL 2007. AFTER HAVING THE CAR ONLY 2 WEEKS, IT WOULD NOT START. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS TESTED AND EXAMINED. ALL TESTS CAME BACK PERFECT. FROM THEN ON MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS IN THE SHOP…

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I HAD PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER IN APRIL 2007. AFTER HAVING THE CAR ONLY 2 WEEKS, IT WOULD NOT START. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS TESTED AND EXAMINED. ALL TESTS CAME BACK PERFECT. FROM THEN ON MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS IN THE SHOP 6 TIME FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 3 1/2 WEEKS! NOTHING COULD BE DETECTED THEREFORE NOTHING WAS EVER FIXED!! I FILED A CLAIM WITH MITSUBISHI AND MY CAR WAS FINALLY DEEMED A LEMON. I HAD RECEIVED ANOTHER BRAND NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER IN OCTOBER 2007. NOW IT BEING ABOUT 2 WEEKS SINCE HAVING THE CAR, I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM!!!! THE CAR JUST WON'T START. THERE HAS TO BE SOMEONE ELSE THAT OWNS ONE OF THESE CARS THAT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES??!! I CANNOT BE THE ONLY PERSON THAT PURCHASED TWO BRAND NEW CARS THAT TURNED OUT TO BE LEMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205785

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2007
Electrical System

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER IN APRIL 2007. AFTER ONLY OWNING THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS IT WOULDN'T START. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WHERE IT WAS TESTED AND EXAMINED. ALL TEST CAME BACK PERFECT. FROM THEN ON THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY TIME THIS OCCURRE…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER IN APRIL 2007. AFTER ONLY OWNING THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS IT WOULDN'T START. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WHERE IT WAS TESTED AND EXAMINED. ALL TEST CAME BACK PERFECT. FROM THEN ON THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT START. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY TIME THIS OCCURRED. IT WAS IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES AND FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 3 1/2 WEEKS. THE PROBLEM COULD NEVER BE DETECTED AND THERE FOR NEVER FIXED. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MITSUBISHI AND THE CAR WAS FINALLY DEEMED A LEMON. I RECEIVED ANOTHER BRAND NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER IN OCTOBER 2007. NOW AFTER HAVING THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, THE PROBLEM IS RE-OCCURRING!! IT JUST WON'T START. THERE HAS TO BE MORE 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER OWNERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT I HAVE PURCHASED THE ONLY TWO BRAND NEW CARS THAT ARE LEMONS!!!! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205780

Official recalls

5

20V279000 · Structure:frame And Members; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

May 18, 2020

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 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 a loss of vehicle control, 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure:frame And Members

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 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: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 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: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

18V071000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Jan 26, 2018

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

14V562000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

Sep 12, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

09V435000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 5, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

09V077000 · Service Brakes, Air:supply:check Valve

Mar 10, 2009

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 39,711 MY 2008-2009 OUTLANDER AND LACER VEHICLES. INCORRECT MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE MAY CAUSE THE CHECK VALVE TO STICK CLOSED WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RE-STARTED AND PUT INTO MOTION, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS (VERY SLOW VEHICLE MANEUVERS), THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT INITIAL BRAKING ASSIST.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY TEMPORARILY INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.