Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems
59 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
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.
Top trouble spots 4 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
I started my car and the awc service light came on. I came to a controlled stop, and restarted the car per the instructions in the vehicle manual. Upon restart, the same service light came on. After the dealer ran a diagnostic, it was found that the high pressure pump for the…
This is report of a known failure by Mitsubishi motor corp. At 50,800 miles on 12/17/2013 my cars super-active center differential (s-acd) started blinking at me. It would not allow changing of the settings anymore for tarmac/gravel/snow. Immediately there after, the driver…
Acd/ ayc pump failure, one time I was doing fluid inspection on my car when I notice the cars atf fluid reservoir in the trunk is losing oil. Looked at the floor found some red oil dripping. It may have seem that pump may have been failing to hold pressure and lose oil. Possible…
Due to cold weather here in mn, my sawc pump has failed(all wheel drive control unit, hydraulic pump fails due to cold weather). I've researched and many people with the same make and model have had issues of the same. Bought the car in feb 2013, used with 38kmiles. Im afraid…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 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.
Should you avoid the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
On the NHTSA data, the 2008 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 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 36 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 49,392 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 49,392 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has open recalls?
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.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 59 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, 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.