Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–98 of 98

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 14, 20044,781 milesCA

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE. I LET THEM KNOW IT WAS MAKING AN ODD RATTLE TYPE NOISE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED WITH. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE FAILED. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THEY REBUILT THE ENGINE. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Sep 13, 2004TN

CLUTCH SLIPPING AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. CAR IS NOT RACED NOR ABUSED.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Sep 7, 2004OH

BOUGHT MY 2003 EVO ON AUGUST 18TH 2004...ON AUGUST 20TH THE CLUTCH WENT OUT WITH ONLY 14K MILES, I HAD JUST BROKE 150 MILES IN THE 2 DAYS....FOUND OUT THE CLUTCH WASNT WARRANTIED BUT THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT OFF OF FELT BAD AND AGREED TO PAY FOR IT TO GET FIXED...I DIDNT LOSE ANYTHING OUT OF THE DEAL BUT READIN SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND SEEIN MITSU SAYS WE ALL DRIVE OUR CARS TOO HARD, THATS A LOT OF PPL!! BUT SO WHAT IF WE DO, THE CAR IS MADE TO DRIVE FAST, IT SHOULD HAVE THE CLUTCH IN IT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE POWER AND HANDLE THE AWD.....IF THIS ONE GOES OUT, IM PUTTIN IN A DOUBLE DISK SO I WONT HAVE TO WORRY AGAIN...MITSU'S WARRANTY POLICY ON AFTERMARKET PARTS SUCKS TOO. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 20, 20049,100 milesNY

MOTOR HAS BLOWN TWICE 5 DAYS AFTER INTIAL BUY OF VEHICLE THEN AGAIN 6000 MILES LATER, MANUFACTER SAYS CUSTOMER NEGLECT, HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 18, 20041,700 milesCA

MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN MY LANCER EVOLUTION STARTED TO FEEL ROUGH AROUND 350 MILES I THOUGHT IN WAS NORMAL SINCE IT WAS A NEW CAR. BUT AROUND 1700 MILES THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE I TOOK IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT FORM BUT THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS FINE, SO I TOOK IT HOME THE WAY IT WAS. I NOW HAVE 5000 MILES AND MY CLUTCH IS ALL WORN OUT AND MY DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER ABUSED OF THE CAR I AM STILL TRYING TO BREAK IT IN. SO I THINK IT DOES NOT MAKE SINCE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE MY CLUTCH 20 TIMES BEFORE MY 100,000 MILES. SO I DON'T THINK THE CLUTCH WENT OUT UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR THERE HAVE BEEN TO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 16, 20041,700 milesCA

MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 8. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 27, 200415,500 milesMD

JUST WITH TALKING TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION THEY ARE TELLING ME MISTUBISHI IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE CLUTCH FAILURE PROBLEM . THEY ARE STATING THAT IT'S ALL OF US DRIVERS FAULTS. AND THERE APPEARS TO BE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS.*AK CLUTCH IS SLIPPING. NO FAILURE YET. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. WAITING TO HEAR MORE.

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 20, 20042,770 milesAZ

CLUTCH FAILURE AFTER 2778 MILES OF DRIVING A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII. PURCHASED NEW VEHICLE (USED BROKER JIM ESTRADA AUTOBROKER 602-683-2120) FROM MARK MITSUBISHI WITH 1586 MILES. AFTER DRIVING 1192 ADDTIONAL MILES THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING. RETURNED CAR TO MARK MITSUBISHI TO FIND THAT CLUTCH PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED BY AUTO WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING NHTSA WEBSITE I FOUND 13 SIMILAR FAILURES OF CLUTCH PROBLEMS WITH SAME RESULT WITH DEALERS. THERE ARE NOW 30 REPORTED INCIDENTS. I TRIED TO HAVE PROBLEM REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS MY PROBLEM. WHILE NEGOTIATING REPAIR MY DAUGHTER WAS TOLD BY SALESPERSON HE KNEW OF CLUTCH PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL CAR. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THIS SAME SALESPERSON THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS. HIS REPLY WHEN ASKED WHY BUYER IS NOT INFORMED WAS THAT I SHOULD DO MY HOMEWORK. I DO NOT THINK A NEW CAR SHOULD HAVE A PROBLEM AT 2778 MILES OF DRIVING. MITSUBISHI HAD TROUBLES WITH THEIR TRUCK CLUTCHES SENDING ONE OF THEIR EXCUTIVES TO JAIL IN JAPAN. I HAD TO PAY $889.89 TO HAVE CLUTCH REPLACED. *LA

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 15, 20042,957 milesNV

THE CLUTCH ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII WENT OUT AFTER ONLY 3000 MILES. MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY SAYING IT WAS DUE TO CUSTOMER ABUSE. WHEN ASKED TO CITE A REFERENCE TO SUGGEST CUSTOMER ABUSE THEY SIMPLY SAID THAT THE CLUTCH HAD GONE OUT. AFTER TALKING TO MANY PEOPLE ON INTERNET FORUMS ABOUT THEIR EVOLUTIONS IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM, AND MITSUBISHI HAS MADE EVERY PERSON PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. *LA

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 200412,000 milesNJ

I HAD 12000 MILES ON MY CAR IT IS 7 MONTHS OLD. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND IV BEEN DRIVING MANUAL CARS FOR OVER 8 YEARS. NEVER HAD ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BE FOR THEY HAD TO REPLACE SOME SYNCROS BECAUSE IT WOULD GRIND BETWEEN FOURTH AND FITH GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AND THEY ALSO MADE A COMMENT ON HOW WORN MY CLUTCH IS AND THAT MY FLY WHEEL IS SCORED. EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN I START OFF I SMELL MY CLUTCH BURNING AND SMOKE COMES OUT OF MY EXHAUST AND THEY SAY ITS FROM ABUSE WHEN ITS NOT. *LA

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 3, 2004MD

I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 8 FROM ANTWERPEN MITSUBISHI IN RANDALLSTOWN,MD AND I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FO A BETTER BUYING EXPIERENCE,THAT IS UNTILL MY CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP....I BOUGHT IT ONLY 3 MONTHS AGO W/183 MILES ON IT(EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRACT SAID IT HAD 83 MILES ON IT)AND AT ABOUT 2200 MILES MY CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP .I FOUGHT WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR DAYS AND THEY JUST DENIED THE CLAIM STATEING THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 350.00 TO HAVE THE CLUTCH INSPECTED TO EVEN SEE IF IT COULD BE WARRENTED BUT ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER IT WAS MORE THEN LIKELY DUE TO ABUSE AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERD I AM NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND LET MITSUBISHI STEAL FROM US I BELIEVE THEY PUT A CHEAP CLUTCH IN THE CAR TO LOWER THE COST OF PRODUCTION TO KEEP THE PRICE OF THE CAR DOWN SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT THIS SO NOW I AM FORCED TO PAY OVER $1000.00 TO HAVE A REAL CLUTCH PUT IN SO IF YOU OTHER EVO OWNERS OUT THERE FEEL LIKE I DO CONTACT A LAWYER LIKE I AM GOING TO TO ASAP!!!*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 1, 20042,500 milesTX

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 1, 20043,200 milesNV

THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND HAS 3200 MILES ON IT. *JB

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 1, 20043,000 milesTX

PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR ON NEW VEHICLE. EXPERIENCING CLUTCH SLIPPAGE AT 3000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY MANY OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER (MITSUBISHI) HAS NOT EQUIPPED THE VEHICLE WITH A STRONG ENOUGH CLUTCH. *NM

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jul 1, 200413,000 milesCA

ECU REGISTERS P0300 (MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE) OBDII ERROR CODE. ERROR CODE IS THROWN, SES LIGHT COMES ON, AND CAR STUMBLES UNTIL THROTTLE IS RELEASED. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS AT LIGHT THROTTLE OR CRUISING (STEADY) THROTTLE. IT CAN OCCUR UNDER LOAD (ACCELERATION) BUT NEVER OCCURS ON DECELERATION. KNOWN FACETS OF THIS PROBLEM THUS FAR ARE: 1) MITSUBISHI IS AWARE OF 2 ISSUES: STICKY (DIRTY) INJECTORS AND A TRANSMISSION HARMONIC RESONANCE, WHICH THROWS THE KNOCK SENSOR 2) THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE WHEN THIS OCCURS UNTIL THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED. 3) MY VEHICLE IN PARTICULAR IS ALMOST 100% UNDRIVEABLE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM RECURRING EVERY 10-15 SECONDS DURING ANY SORT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING PERIOD. 4) IT _IS_ A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, ONLY TO BE MET WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE A WALL WHEN THE ERROR CODE IS THROWN AND THE ECU RETARDS THE TIMING BECAUSE IT IS DETECTING KNOCK (WHICH IS NOT ACTUALLY OCCURRING). 5) MITSUBISHI (MMNA) IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF AN ECU REFLASH FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM (THE HARMONIC RESONANCE ISSUE, NOT THE INJECTOR ISSUE). THEY HAVE CLAIMED THAT THE FLASH WILL BE OUT "WITHIN 3-6 WEEKS" SINCE NOVEMBER 2003, AND IT IS STILL NOT OUT NOR AVAILABLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS HELD UP IN EPA CERTIFICATION. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FOR ME LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TIMES, AND NO DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE MITSUBISHI WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY WARRANTY WORK ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, CITING T

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Jun 30, 2004NJ

LOUD NOISES WHEN DECELARATING, VERY CHATTERY WHEN DRIVING. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 22, 200412,195 milesNC

ON JUNE 1ST THE CLUTCH FAILED COMPLETELY IT WAS COMPOSED OF THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND THEN EXPLODING. THIS CAR WAS NOT ABUSED AND FROM THE 3RD DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING. I TRIED TO GET THE FACTORY TO DO SOMTHING ABOUT IT THEN BUT HAD NO LUCK. I WAS TOLD I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. I ENDED UP PAYING FOR THE CLUTCH REPLACEMENT OUT OF POCKET ANYWAY NOW THEY ARE THREATENING TO VOID MY WARRANTY BECAUSE I DIDNT REPLACE IT WITH THEIR STOCK REPLACEMENT! AFTER THE CLUTCH REPLACEMENT THE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION IS GIVING ME TROUBLES AFTER ONLY 700 MILES. THE DEALER THAT I HAD THE CLUTCH REPAIR DONE THEN REFERED ME TO ANOTHER DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. IT HAS DEVELOPED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE THAT STARTS ABOUT 40MPH IT SOUNDS LIKE A WWII BOMB SHELTER WARNING SIREN. THIS HAS BEEN A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE!*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger
Filed Jun 22, 200419,000 milesCA

1. THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY STOCK AND DRIVEN BY AN ADULT WHO DOES NOT RACE OR ABUSE ANY OF THE CARS MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. 2. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS WITH A OBD-II 'ENGINE WARNING' CODE CELL 0300 I REPEATEDLY GET WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I EXPERIENCE THIS WARNING UP TO 5 TIMES A DAY DURING MY 20 MILE FREEWAY COMMUTE. THE CEL WARNING COMES ON MOST OFTEN DURING VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION INPUTS (5-15% THROTTLE) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN SPEED WITH THE OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. WHILE GENTLY TOUCHING THE THROTTLE, THERE IS A SUDDEN AND VIOLENT ENGINE MISFIRING THAT SLOWS THE CAR DOWN CONSIDERABLY. THIS MAKES ME A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AGAIN UNTIL I LET OFF THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY THEN JAB IT VIOLENTLY (50% OR MORE THROTTLE). THIS ERROR REPEATS EACH TIME I USE GENTLE THROTTLE INPUTS ON THE FREEWAY. AS A RESULT, I DRIVE AROUND WITH MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT LIT ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME. IN THE STATE OF CA, IF YOUR ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WHEN YOU GO FOR YOUR ANNUAL SMOG/EMISSIONS TEST, YOU ARE INSTANTLY FAILED! MY CAR WOULD FAIL AN EMISSIONS TEST IN THIS STATE BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. 3. I APPROACHED THE DEALER WITH THIS ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE COIL PACKS AND THE SPARK PLUGS TO SEE IF THAT WOULD FIX THINGS. AND WHILE THEY WERE VERY CORDIAL ABOUT FINDING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND FIXING IT UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX MY CAR. THEY ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE ECU TO THROW THIS ERROR CODE. SO I AM CURRE

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 21, 2004TX

POWERTRAIN: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 2004NV

CLUTCH FAILURE 2 TIMES BEFORE 6000 MILES. 2003 LANCER EVOLUTION.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 20045,174 milesPA

CLUTCH SLIPPED. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 20047,853 milesIL

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ONLY 7,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. 5TH GEAR SYNCHROS WENT BAD. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP SPECIFICALLY ADVISED THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 200415,000 milesCA

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW WITH 26 MILES. 6 MONTHS LATER AND 17000 MILES THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND NOT INGAUGING. IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN MOVE. THE RPM WOULD JUST RAISE, EVEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 6500 IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE CAR NOT RESPONDING. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SHIP HERE IN TOWN WOULD NOT EVEN WANT TO COVER IT OR TOUCH IT.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 2004CA

UNDER THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP OF MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, MY CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED MY DEALER AND WENT IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER BUT BEFORE ANY QUESTIONS HE ASSUMED I HAD ABUSED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHECK FOR PROBLEMS IF I PAID TO THE COST OF A TEARDOWN BEFORE ANYTHING. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS STILL IN THE "BREAK-IN" PERIOD AND DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY. HE DID NOT CARE AND SAID MANY PEOPLE ABUSE THIS CAR, SO HE STILL WOULD NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND. FURTHERMORE, WHILE BEING AT THE DEALER FOR OTHER PROBLEMS, SOMEONE HAD TAKEN MY CAR FOR 20 MILES WITHOUT ANY EXPLAINATION. I LET HIM KNOW ABOUT THIS AND HE STILL INSISTED THAT I WAS ABUSING THE CLUTCH AND WOULD ONLY ALLOW AN INSPECTION IF I PAID THE LABOR FOR A TEARDOWN FIRST. BASICALLY, THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF MITSUBISHI WAS UNREASONABLE AND WOULD NOT LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 20042,800 milesOH

SLIPPING CLUTCH WITH ONLY 3500 MILES. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 20049,250 milesVA

CLUTCH DEFECTIVE, WENT OUT AT 9000 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE WITH MY OWN MONEY AS DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR WARRENTY ON MY CAR, BUT PROVIDED NO PROOF OR REASON WHY.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 20047,972 milesOK

CLUTCH FAILURE. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 2004CA

I'VE HAD A THROW OUT BEARING METAL TO METAL RUBBING NOISE FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION VIII. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO ASK IF I SHOULD BE CONCERNED. I WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD TOLD NOT TO WORRY UNLESS THE NOISE GETS WORSE. SINCE THEN MY CLUTCH HAS BEGUN TO CHATTER IN COLD WEATHER VIOLENTLY, AND OCCATIONALLY IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER. MY PEDAL THROW HAS BEEN VERY FAR FROM THE FLOOR FROM DAY ONE AND I JUST ASSUMED THIS WAS THE NATURE OF THE CAR. I LATER FOUND FROM A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE EXACT SAME DEALERSHIP THAT UPON RECEIVING THE VERY FIRST SHIPMENT OF EVOLUTIONS, BOTH VEHICLES RECEIVED WERE TAKEN OUT AND DRIVEN BY ALL THE MANAGMENT AND EMPLOYEES AT THE DEALERSHIP AND VIOLENTLY ABUSED AND PRESSED FURTHER THEN THEY WERE MENT TO BE USED FOR. I HAVE TWO SEPARATE PEOPLE WITH MATCHING STORIES WHO WORKED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP TELL ME THAT MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE TWO VEHICLES WHICH THEY TOOK OUT FOR A JOY RIDE. SO MY CLUTCH PROBLEM IS EITHER A: A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, OR B: ABUSE FRO MTHE DEALERSHIP. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 2004MN

MY CLUTCH JUST GOES OUT AT 2K AND MITSUBISHI DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY SAY ITS BURN. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 19, 20046,380 milesCA

CLUTCH FAILED UNDER ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING ON FREEWAY. CAR HAS 6300 MILES, 3 MONTHS OLD. DEALER QUOTED ALMOST $1500 FOR REPLACEMENT NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Bell Housing
Filed Jun 8, 20042,500 milesAZ

AFTER PURCHASING NEW 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO8 WITH 1500 DEALER MILES, AN ADDITIONAL 1000 MILES WAS DRIVEN WHEN CLTUCH PROBLEM BEGAN. VERY SERIOUS CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND 12 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA ON FILE. I AM CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM THINKING IF THEY REPLACE THIS CLUTCH WITH A FACTORY KIT, THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 2, 2004WI

MY MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION 8 CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING AT APPROX. 12,000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALER AND I WAS DENIED A WARRANTY CLAIM. I NEVER DONE IT HARD OR EVEN TOOK IT TO A RACE TRACK. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 1, 200410,000 milesVA

CLUTCH FAILURE AT RIGHT AROUND 10,000 MILES.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 31, 2004400 milesNJ

PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR AND FAILURE. ON MY VEHICLE, A MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII, THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AT 5700 MILES FROM PURCHASE. THE CLUTCH FAILURE OCCURED FROM NORMAL USAGE, AND THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN OTHER EVOLUTIONS AS WELL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AS IT CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERABLE.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 31, 20046,000 milesGA

FAILURE OF CLUTCH AT AROUND 6,000 MILES ON A 03' MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. MITSUNISHI CLAIMS UNDER WARRANTY THAT IT IS COVERED UP TO 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE CLUTCH OR CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I COMMUNICATED WITH THE HEAD OF SERVICE SHOP AND HE COMMUNICATED THAT MITSUBISHI MOTORS HAD STATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER PROBLEM. AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS I DIDN'T RECIEVE ANY HELP AND WAS FORCED TO REPLACE BAD PART MYSELF FOR OVER $2000 W/LABOR. I HAVE SEEN THIS IN NUMEROUS EVOLUTIONS WITH THEM EVEN GOING OUT UNDER 1000 MILES. OUT OF 6 FRIENDS THAT OWN THE SAME CAR 5 HAVE HAD TO REPLACE CLUTCH AND ALL UNDER 7000 MILES.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 31, 200416,750 milesOK

I'VE OWNED MY 03 MITSU EVOLUTION VIII FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE PUT 16,700 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING AND IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE IT WILL REQUIRE 8 HOURS OF LABOR AND A BETTER CLUTCH JUST TO GET IT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WITH IN REASON TO BABY THIS THING. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 31, 20044,800 milesCA

CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AFTER 4800 MILES, HAD MY CLUTCH REPLACED, $1125. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 30, 20041,000 milesWA

THE CLUTCH IS SHUTTERING / CHATTERING WHEN PULLING FROM A STOP IN 1ST AND MORE SO IN REVERSE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING MILDLY WHEN NEW AND IS NOW MUCH WORSE AT 7000 MILES. IN REVERSE THE SHAKING AND SHUTTERING IS OFTEN SO BAD I MUST PUSH THE CLUTCH BACK IN AND START OVER. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. *LA

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 30, 20043,000 milesVA

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND MY CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 3000 MILES COSTING NEARLY 1500 DOLLARS AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MITSUBISHI. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A AFTERMARKET CLUTCH I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH AS OF YET AND IT HAS 17000 MILES ON IT. *LA

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 30, 20042,600 milesPA

I HAD BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW ON JANUARY 10TH, 2004 WITH ABOUT 300 MILES ON THE CAR ALREADY FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT FROM FRED BEANS MITSUBISHI. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT BEEN HARD ON MY CAR AT ALL. BUT ABOUT 2,500 MILES ON THE CAR, MY CLUTCH STARTED TO STICK AND I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I REPORTED IT TO MITSUBISHI AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL THING THESE CAR'S DO. ON MARCH 6TH 2004 I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN THE BOULEVARD, WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN I AM STARTING TO PULL AWAY IN MY CAR, THE CLUTCH STICKS DOWN ALL THE WAY AND WOULD NOT RELEASE BACK. I HAD TO SCOOP MY FOOT UNDER IT AND MANUALLY PULL IT BACK. I BARELY GOT IT HOME BEFORE THE CLUTCH TOTALLY DIED ON ME. I TOOK IT TO MITSUBISHI THAT FOLLOWING WEEKEND AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE CLUTCH BECAUSE THEY SAY ALL OF US YOUNGSTERS ABUSE CARS AND THAT WE WILL NOT WARRANTY THE PART. SO I HAD TO GO AND SPEND NEARLY $800 TO BUY A NEW CLUTCH AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. I DON'T FEEL THAT I WAS TREATED RIGHT AND FOR THE CAR TO HAVE A CLUTCH GO THAT FAST, IT MUST OF BEEN A DEFECT. BUT THEY JUST WANTED MY MONEY. *LA

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 30, 20045,500 milesOH

2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION CLUTCH DEFECTIVE AT 5500 MILES. ALSO 3RD GEAR SYNCHO IS GONE. VERY WEAK CLUTCH. *LA

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 5, 2004CA

I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION WITH 10,500 MILES. THE CLUTCH APPEARS TO HAVE PREMATURELY WORN OUT AS ENGAGEMENT IS VERY ROUGH AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JUMP AND LURCH FROM A STAND STILL. COMING FROM A START IN FIRST GEAR IS THE PRIMARY PROBLEM. THIS "CLUTCH SHUTTER/CHATTER" IS VERY COMMON IN THE EVO VIII COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS DUE TO A WORN CLUTCH PLATE AND IS A "WEAR ITEM" AND THUS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY LET ALONE ABUSED. FROM THE INFO I GATHER MANY EVO VIII OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYPTOMS WITH EVEN LESS MILEAGE THAN MINE. THIS DEFINETELY SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR A RECALL!!!! THANKS . *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 4, 20042,400 milesCO

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION-8, AND AT APPROXIMATELY 2,400 MILES I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION, AND NO MODIFICATIONS HAD BEED DONE TO THE CAR. IT STARTED OUT AS A 4TH TO 5TH GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM(GRINDING). IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S RPM SENSITIVE. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT, AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH NEED FIXING, HOWEVER, DID AKNOWLEDGE AFTER THEY DROVE IT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING "OUT OF PLACE" WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND DID EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I WAS HAVING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR THIS, BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO FIX THIS. THEN AROUND 4,500 MILES IT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS GOING INTO SECOND GEAR, AND THIRD GEAR WITH A VERY NOTCHY AND ROUGH ENGAGEMENT. I NOW HAVE 12,500 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE SHIFTING IS GETTING MUCH WORSE. AFTER BROWSING THE INTERNET, I FOUND MANY LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WITH THE END RESULT BEING THAT THE OWNER OF THE CAR IS AT FAULT AND NOT THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER. ONE REFERENCE # IS 10063730 NHTSA COMPLAINT ID: 464401 ENTERED MARCH 23, 2004.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)
Filed Apr 29, 20047,600 milesNV

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER SHIFTED GEARS AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, AND THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PUSH ROD TO THE CLUTCH WAS BEND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PUSH ROD WAS INDEED BEND. *AK

Structure › Body
Filed Apr 15, 2004500 milesVA

ROCK CHIPS BEHIND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR. MANY LITTLE CHIPS RUNNING UP THE DOOR FRAME. THE CHIPS ARE IN THE CREASE OF THE DOOR JAMB. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES. I TOOK THE CAR (2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION) TO HALL MITSUBISHI IN NEWPORT NEWS VIRGINIA AROUND JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS ROCKS KICKED UP FROM THE ROAD AND DIRECTED ME TO CALL A TOUCH UP PAINT REPAIR SPECIALIST. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER LANCER EVOLUTION OWNERS AND SEEN FIRST HAND THAT ALMOST EVERY EVOLUTION HAS THIS PROBLEM. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE AREA IN QUESTION. THE CHIPS ARE TINY, BUT THEY ARE IN A PLACE ON THE CAR THAT WILL BE VERY SUSCEPTABLE TO RUST. I STARTED NOTICING THE PROBLEMS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A IMPROPERLY ALIGNED REAR DOOR. SO FAR I HAVE ONLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. *AK

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Apr 9, 200410,100 milesNY

EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES COMING FROM TRANSMISSION/FRONT TRANSFER CASE. I KNOW OF MANY OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS SEVERE DEFECT IN THE EVO VIII FRONT TRANSFER CASE!*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Apr 7, 20045,000 milesCA

THE CLUTCH WORE OUT PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLE. *AK

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Mar 29, 2004HI

THERE ARE PITTED RUST SPOTS ON THE REAR DRIVERSIDE QUARTER PANEL. WHERE THE DOOR MEETS THE PANEL. ALSO THERE ARE SURFACE RUST ON THE REAR OF MY BUMPER OF MY CAR.*AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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