Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides the replacement procedure for the Differential Mount Bracket Bush of the Rear Axle Differential Carrier Assembly in the applicable Service Manual sections.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution powertrain problems
moderate 36 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 36 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 13 mileage-bearing powertrain complaints filed against the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution by each odometer reading. Median failure: 47,250 mi.
10% have failed by19,000 mi
Half the fleet by47,250 mi
90% have failed by67,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 61% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 36 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the transaxle assembly removal and installation of the roll stopper bracket.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This TSB provides the necessary steps to complete diagnosis, replace the Mechatronic Assembly, and program the new electronic control unit. This bulletin supercedes TSB-14-22-003, issued September, 2014, to update the labor operation code in Warranty Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Lancer Evolution's all-wheel-drive system is a liability. The ACD/AYC/AWC hydraulic pump—the core component that distributes power between axles and enables terrain modes (Snow, Gravel, Tarmac)—fails routinely between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, especially in cold or salt-belt climates. The pump sits directly behind the rear passenger wheel, where road salt, water, and debris corrode the unprotected fittings and internals. Cold weather thickens the hydraulic fluid, overloading the motor. When it fails, owners see a "Service Required" dashboard light or warning symbol, lose the ability to select terrain modes, and the vehicle enters a limited-function mode. Repair costs run $1,800–$2,250, and Mitsubishi denies warranty coverage, claiming the pump is not part of the drivetrain. Some owners report paying twice or three times for the same repair. Mitsubishi released a software update (TSB-SC-09-002) that can help prevent failure in cold climates, but the company denies the update to vehicles sold outside designated cold-weather states, even if owners drive in alpine snow.
The timing belt or chain stretches around 70,000 miles—just outside the warranty period—causing rough idle and stalling. Manual-transmission models suffer notchy, grinding shifts, particularly between first and second gear, affecting acceleration and drivability. One case involved center-differential pins backing out at highway speed, causing the transmission to pop into neutral repeatedly before seizing and cracking the casing.
Same Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
ACD/AYC/AWC Hydraulic Pump Failure
The Active Center Differential (ACD), Active Yaw Control (AYC), or All-Wheel Control (AWC) hydraulic pump fails, disabling the all-wheel-drive system's ability to distribute power between front and rear axles and select terrain modes (Tarmac/Gravel/Snow). Owners report the pump corrodes due to its location directly behind the rear passenger wheel, where road salt, water, and debris splash onto unprotected fittings and internals. Cold weather thickens the hydraulic fluid, creating excessive load on the motor. The pump can fail suddenly or gradually leak fluid.
When: Typically 50,000–100,000 miles; owners in cold or salt-belt regions report failures as early as 50k miles; failures concentrated around 70k miles; some occur shortly after purchase of used vehicles; often triggered or worsened by cold-weather driving (below freezing)
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard warning light: 'Service Required' or 'AWD Service Required' or symbol showing four wheels connected by axles; Loss of ability to select Snow/Gravel/Tarmac terrain modes (system stays locked in one mode or reverts to default); Vehicle enters limp mode with reduced power delivery control; Fluid leak from rear passenger-side area of vehicle; Audible screech or noise when pump fails; Warning disappears and reappears intermittently in very cold weather; worse after cold soak
Codes mentioned: C161E, DTC C161E (Electric Pump Relay Circuit System Stuck)
Repairs/costs cited: Pump replacement costs $1,800–$2,250 in parts and labor; owners report some pumps fail a second or third time; some owners attempt internal repair of failed pump motor; aftermarket shops (Jack's Transmission, Shep Trans) offer upgraded pins or internal repairs; fluid flush often needed after leaks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB-SC11-002 (attempted fix, did not resolve issue); Service Bulletin SC-09-002 / TSB SC09-002 offers AWC ECU reprogramming to modify software parameters and match motor operations to ambient conditions to prevent cold-weather damage—but Mitsubishi denies the update to vehicles sold outside cold-climate states (e.g., California vehicles denied update even if driven in Sierra Nevada); Mitsubishi claims pump is not part of drivetrain warranty and denies most warranty claims; some owners report extended warranty mentioned at dealership but not disclosed at purchase; some dealers applied reflash software without resolving underlying pump corrosion; Mitsubishi refuses recall despite known issue dating back to 2006 models
Manual Transmission Center Differential Pin Backing Out
On manual-transmission 2008 models, center differential pins back out of their seats, causing the transmission to shift into neutral unexpectedly at highway speeds. The loose pins then crack the transmission casing, allowing all transmission fluid to leak out, causing gears to seize and the vehicle to skid. Mitsubishi upgraded the pin heat coating starting in 2010 but did not recall earlier models.
When: Highway speeds; not specified at what mileage, though owner was out of warranty when failure occurred
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pops out of gear into neutral without driver input; Occurs repeatedly when driver tries to re-engage (e.g., shifts to 4th, pops to neutral again); Entire transmission locks up, vehicle skids; Complete transmission fluid loss due to cracked casing; Gears seize
Repairs/costs cited: $5,000 repair bill cited; cracked transmission casing; full fluid flush/replacement needed; aftermarket transmission shops (Jack's Transmission, Shep Trans) offer pin upgrades to prevent backing out
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mitsubishi upgraded pin heat coating starting in 2010 to prevent this failure; no recall issued for 2008 models; warranty claim denied (owner was out of warranty at time of failure)
Timing Belt/Chain Stretch and Failure
Timing belt or timing chain stretches or breaks, causing rough idle and stalling at stop lights around 70,000 miles. Multiple owners report the same issue near the same mileage, suggesting a design defect. Mitsubishi manufactured a corrected timing chain as of January 2012 to address the problem, but did not recall earlier models.
When: Around 70,000 miles; typically just outside the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Rough idling, especially at stop lights; Engine dies unexpectedly at idle; RPM drops below normal at idle; Stretching of belt/chain detected by dealership diagnostics
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement timing chain needed; cost not specified in narratives; Mitsubishi manufactured improved timing chain design as of January 2012 to correct defects
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mitsubishi designed and manufactured corrected timing chain as of January 2012; no recall issued for pre-2012 vehicles; repair falls outside warranty (occurs around 70k miles, warranty is 3yr/36k or 5yr/60k)
Manual Transmission Notchy/Grinding Shifts (GSR 5-Speed Models)
On GSR-trim models equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, gear shifts are notchy and grinding, particularly between first-to-second and second-to-third gear. Problem is pronounced in cold engine conditions but persists even when engine is warm. Shifts lack smoothness and smoothness regardless of upshift or downshift. Loss of power and vehicle slowdown occur because driver cannot shift quickly due to grinding resistance. Widely reported across forums.
When: Evident from early ownership; pronounced during cold engine conditions, persists when warm
Symptoms owners cite: Notchy, grinding sensation when shifting gears; Difficulty engaging gears, especially 1st-to-2nd and 2-to-3; Gearshift not smooth in general; Loss of power/speed in middle of road due to inability to shift in time; Longer-than-normal time-gap in power delivery during acceleration from stop; Problem occurs on both upshift and downshift
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified in narratives; owner notes dealer test-drive found no problems despite reported issue
Manual Transmission Difficulty Shifting and Reverse Engagement
On new vehicles with low mileage (3,300 miles reported), driver experiences difficulty shifting from second to third gear, requiring multiple clutch pedal releases to engage. Transmission also refuses to shift into reverse at times. Dealer performed test drive and claimed no problems found despite owner's report.
When: Present at 3,300 miles on new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Difficulty shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear; Requires taking clutch pedal out two to three times to engage gear; Transmission will not go into reverse; Issue present on low-mileage new vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified; dealer claimed no problems found
Clutch Disk Dragging During Disengagement
Clutch disk drags during disengagement, causing hard shifting and premature wear of transmission synchronizers. Multiple complaints brought to Mitsubishi with no fix offered.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch disk drags during disengagement; Hard shifting results from drag; Premature synchronizer wear
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple complaints brought to Mitsubishi; no fix offered
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
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 active stability control system had failed. I was told that this part was not part of the drive train and would not be…
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 information panel popped up with a yellow "AWD service required" indicator. I brought my car to nashua, nh…
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 gasket failure or pump crack. Been searching online for similar problems, I found out it seemed to be mostly every…
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 the dealer wont cover the expenses of getting this replace. It is a known issue as I've researched with many people…
Vehicle was in cold weather, ayc system light turned on. I checked the forums and found that this is a common issue that indicates the pump is bad. This is a very common problem. *tr
Was driving vehicle and warning light "service required" and a symbol indicating the all-wheel drive suspension appeared. Had code read and my vehicle suffered a acd pump failure. It is a crucial feature to the sophisticated AWD stability control system that makes an evo "special". This is a part of the drive train that is not covered in the drive train warranty. They all fail and they are…
Acd/acy recall. I purchased my 2008 evo with 95000 miles on it. Shortly after I bought the vehicle I was having issues with it running lean and my ayc service light appeared on the dash. I then took the vehicle to the dealership with 96000 miles on the car in hopes for them to help me fix these issues with my car and yet there was no help at all. So then I went on my way and I had another…
It was a cold winter day, I started driving my evo to a nearby grocery store. Enroute, the AWD system would throw a warning and a dashboard light lit up. I was concerned, stopped the vehicle and found no leaks or no weird noises. The vehicle was unable to shift into snow/tarmac/gravel mode. Fortunately I was not stranded on the road side. Upon further investigation I came to know that the acd…
(complaint is applicable only to gsr trim equipped with a 5mt transmission) - difficulty shifting first to second gear, and second to third. Gearshift is notchy and hard to engage. Causes longer than desirable time-gap in power to the wheels, resulting in loss of speed during acceleration phase from a stop. - gearshift is not smooth in general. Keywords : notchy, grinding. - it is a widely…
Failure of transmission center differential pins in manual 2008 models. I was driving my car at highway speeds when the car popped out of gear to neutral, then I shifted to 4th and popped out again to neutral, I had to quickly swerve to the shoulder and the entire transmission locked up causing the car to skid. Upon towing it to the dealer they said the center differential pins have backed out…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 36 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 39,000 and 67,000 miles, with the median around 47,850. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,000; a quarter make it past 67,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Mitsubishi/Lancer Evolution.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.