2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems
- Complaints
- 98filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 12,098miles, 76 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 19 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl 4WD/AWD · 16 city / 23 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints on this model year are dominated by the manual transmission and clutch: owners frequently describe clutch slip, chatter and failure well under 20,000 miles, often with the dealer declining warranty coverage. A second cluster involves a random misfire code (P0300) that appears at light throttle, and smaller groups cover transfer-case noise, corroded wiring under the dash, and rear-body rust. Mileage in the sample skews very low for the clutch and misfire reports and much higher for electrical and structural complaints.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Clutch slips or fails early
- 43 complaints (44%)
- median 6,190 mi at 1.7 yrs old (34 state mileage)
- owner-quoted repair $1,062 (median of 10 quotes)
- filed 2004–2008
Owners describe the clutch slipping under light-to-moderate acceleration, revs rising without the car picking up speed, shuddering when pulling away from a stop, and in some cases a pedal that sticks down or a failed push rod. Many say it happened on a car driven normally and maintained per schedule. According to the complaints, dealers typically classified the clutch as a wear item outside warranty and quoted roughly $950-$2,000 for replacement, and several owners report the same symptoms returning after a replacement. Mostly reported under about 20,000 miles, many within the first few thousand miles of ownership.
What to check: Drive the car from a stop and in second and third under load, watching for revs that climb faster than road speed, and ask for clutch replacement records and the mileage at which they were done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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. Clutch is slipping. No failure yet. Nothing has been done yet. Waiting to hear more.”
NHTSA complaint #10082784, filed 2004-07, 15,500 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10074505, filed 2004-05, 2,600 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transfer case and gear noise or failure
- 19 complaints (19%)
- median 14,253 mi at 2.2 yrs old (18 state mileage)
- filed 2004–2008
Complaints describe loud whining, grinding or rumbling from the front of the car at highway speeds, traced by owners to the transfer case or front differential, and in some cases gear grinding when shifting between fourth and fifth. Owners report transfer case replacement, in one case several times, and synchro repairs. Several mention the dealer acknowledged the noise but said it was not severe enough to repair, while others had work done under warranty. Mostly reported between roughly 8,000 and 35,000 miles, often noticed at highway speeds.
What to check: Listen for whine or grind from the front drivetrain at steady 60-70 mph and during the 4th-to-5th shift, and ask for transfer case or synchro service history.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. At 19,000 miles the car developed a very loud sound coming from the front of the car at speeds above 30mph. I work at a auto repair shop and concluded that the sound is coming from the transfer ase/front differential. More than likely from ring gear being improperly shimmed from the factory. …”
NHTSA complaint #10098093, filed 2004-11, 19,050 miles“I am currently on the 5th transfer case for my 03 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8. I had 2 go out under warranty, another rebuilt and now I am on my last one. The first went at ~33k, replaced and broken within a month regular highway driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10184129, filed 2007-03, 33,000 miles - Engine cooling
Random misfire code P0300 and hesitation
- 8 complaints (8%)
- median 15,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- filed 2004–2012
Owners report the check-engine light coming on with a random/multiple-cylinder misfire code, often during steady light throttle or gentle acceleration on the highway, with the car stumbling or briefly losing power until the throttle is released. Complaints mention the dealer performing an ECU reflash and replacing injectors without resolving it, and some owners say the code was attributed to a transmission/input-shaft harmonic issue. Service bulletins describe random misfire diagnostics and a P0300 code resetting after reprogramming. Reported from a few thousand miles up to around 60,000 miles, usually at light or steady throttle rather than under full acceleration.
What to check: Ask whether the ECU reflash or injector work described in the service bulletins was done, and scan for stored or pending P0300 codes after a highway test drive.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Engine light went off. P0300 code. I've went back to the dealers for more than 3 times for this very same code. They've done a ecu reflash for me and they swapped the fuel injectors as well. The engine light still went off very often with the same p0300 code.”
NHTSA complaint #10105945, filed 2005-01, 2,000 miles“Random p0300 error plus vibration at 2800 to 3500 RPM. Contacted Mitsubishi and it is a known issue with a TSB for all evo viii vehicles due to a faulty input shaft. However, Mitsubishi does not cover this under warranty for 03 models as it would be out of warranty long before this issue shows up. Problem occurs sporadically and causes sudden loss of vehicle power. In an oncoming passing situation, this power loss could seriously degrade vehicle safety. …”
NHTSA complaint #10453742, filed 2012-04, 60,000 miles - Electrical system
Corroded wiring under the dash
- 5 complaints (5%)
- median 85,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
- filed 2008–2015
Owners describe water reaching the fuse block and wiring in the driver footwell, causing corrosion that leads to odd electrical behavior: multiple dash warning lights at once, wipers or lights operating on their own, and in one case the engine not shutting off with the key. Complaints say the dealer identified a corroded harness or a firewall leak and made temporary repairs, with problems returning. Generally reported on older, higher-mileage cars, from about 60,000 to 133,000 miles.
What to check: Inspect the fuse block and kick-panel wiring in the driver footwell for corrosion or dampness, check for water trails at the firewall, and test all lights, wipers and the ignition shutoff.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I got into my car to start and it would turn over but not start. After replacing the fuel pump, checking all the fuses and relays, still the same problem. The wire harness fuse block that sits inside the drivers foot well has been corroded by water from a leak in the fire wall. This is a very common problem that even goes back to the previous generation , evo vii, and wasn't fixed for the following generation, evo ix.”
NHTSA complaint #10446905, filed 2012-02, 133,000 miles“The vehicles kick plate where all the wires connect are all corroded its a major problem with all evos there should be a recall to get this problem fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #10692803, filed 2015-03, 115,000 miles
Buying note. Budget for a clutch and inspect the drivetrain carefully, since clutch and transfer-case complaints dominate this model year and often appeared at low mileage. Also check the underdash wiring and rear structure for corrosion, especially on cars from winter-salt states.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 98 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. 76 of the complaints include a mileage, and 86% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 12,098 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 37 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling10 10%
- Electrical system9 9.2%
- Body and structure8 8.2%
- Exterior lighting3 3.1%
- Fuel system3 3.1%
- Other or unknown2 2.0%
- Brakes1 1.0%
- Equipment1 1.0%
Also reported: Interior lighting (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “While traveling 65 MPH my transfer case on my 2003 Mitsubishi evolution unexplainable began to make a loud whining noise, although only having roughly 13,500 miles. As I pulled the car over I could here that there was a metallic clicking sound coming from the transfer case also. To correct this the transfer case will need to be completely replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10175732, filed 2006-12, 13,506 milesEngine cooling: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10095787, filed 2004-10, 4,781 milesElectrical system: “I had just arrived from work and pulled-in my driveway, I was idling my car before shutting off the engine. I then switched off my headlights, but the headlights stayed on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10227112, filed 2008-05, 48,605 milesBody and structure: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10066215, filed 2004-04, 500 milesMileage when problems were reported
86% of the 76 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,781 and 25,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancer Evolution 4WD/AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 16 | 23 | 19 | $4,350 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 16V458000Jun 23, 2016Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower armCovers: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 2003–2006, Outlander 2003–2013, Lancer 2002–2007 +1 more
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut…
- 04V138000Mar 23, 2004Equipment › Other › LabelsCovers: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 2003
On certain passenger vehicles sold in the united states and puerto rico, the gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) and gross axle weight rating (gawr) as stated on the certification label are in error.
Recall details for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 37 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10240443Jul 21, 2023Equipment. This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
- 10235609Apr 24, 2023Body and structure. This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.
- 10235608Apr 24, 2023Equipment. This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more…
- 10235606Apr 21, 2023Equipment. This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
- 10211530Apr 7, 2022Exterior lighting, Other or unknown. This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a…
- 10181903Sep 30, 2020Vehicle speed control. This TSB provides the addition of Hood Air Outlet Maintenance Procedure due to a change in suppliers.
- 10169006Nov 26, 2019Equipment. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10163703Jul 30, 2019Equipment. This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.
- 10130468Feb 27, 2018Equipment. This is a message sent to dealers, to inform them that an update for MEDIC will be available.
- 10130469Feb 26, 2018Equipment. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Other model years of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 6 | 43,000 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2011 | 11 | 35,750 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2010 | 28 | 39,500 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Stable |
| 2008 | 36 | 45,000 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Stable |
| 2006 | 24 | 35,500 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 2005 | 14 | 65,000 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 98 | 12,098 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
Complaints on this model year are dominated by the manual transmission and clutch: owners frequently describe clutch slip, chatter and failure well under 20,000 miles, often with the dealer declining warranty coverage. The issues reported most often: Clutch slips or fails early; Transfer case and gear noise or failure; Random misfire code P0300 and hesitation.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have?
NHTSA recorded 98 consumer complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 65 complaints (66% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 10.
Has the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution get?
The EPA rates the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (Lancer Evolution, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reported?
Among the 76 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 12,098 miles and the middle half falls between 4,781 and 25,000 miles; 86% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.