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The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 34 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 34 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 12 complaints, typically surfacing around 35,740 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Lancer Evolution | 16 | 2 |
| 2006 Lancer Evolution (this page) | 34 | 2 |
| 2008 Lancer Evolution | 59 | 4 |
| 2009 Lancer Evolution | 2 | 5 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Complaint *10261125*-this complaint is 100% accurate, Mitsubishi has recalled many outlander suvs on this same issue, please investigate, horrible experience, turn signals, high beam, low beam, horn, fog lights, engine, everything works at random and cannot be stopped, my engine…
I own a 2006 Mitsubishi lancer evolution ix with approximately 14,500 miles. The clutch seems to have worn out far too soon; furthermore shifting is very rough from 1st through 3rd gear and causes the car to pulsate. It is at its worst in first gear. Apparently, this quite…
My 2006 Mitsubishi evolution 9 started to make abnormal engine noises audible within the cab. The car has been serviced regularly and is more than well kept... The noise comes from within the timing belt cover and sounds much like a washing machine. This noise is also…
Owned 1 2006 lancer evolution, and transmission failed 4 times. Manufacture bought back, purchased 2nd lancer evo, same dealership, transmission problem s again after 15 k miles. *tr
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 12 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 35,740 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 34 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 35,740 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 12 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 35,740 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 35,740 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 34 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.