Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliability by year
5 recalls and 118 owner complaints across 8 model years. Best year to buy: 2006. Year to avoid: 2008.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 8 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the Lancer Evolution aggregated across 8 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution scores 8.4/10 — the strongest in the 2005–2015 range. 34 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution year should I avoid?
The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution scores 8.0/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 59 owner complaints with NHTSA, 0 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2008 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution should I avoid?
No Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.
How many years of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are tracked?
8 model years (2005 through 2015) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 5 recalls and 118 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
powertrain is the most-reported category — 50 complaints across 3 model years. Average shop repair runs about $2,500.