2004 Mitsubishi LANCER EVO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Equipment is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1 |
Equipment: 1; Suspension:Front: 1; Suspension:Rear: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Equipment leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10425350 · 84,920 miTRAVELING ON FREEWAY IN NUMBER 3 LANE, FRONT DRIVE TRAIN LOCKED UP. CAR SKIDDED FOR APPROX 60 FEET AND THAN VEERED TO THE LEFT AND WAS STRUCK IN THE NUMBER 1 LANE. *KB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1147.8%ODI 10464798 · 72,000 miAT 72,000 MILES I WAS EXPERIENCING ISSUES THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE IDLING OF MY CAR. AT STOPLIGHTS IT WOULD DIE UNEXPECTEDLY AND/OR JUST IDLE EXTREMELY ROUGH AS THE RPM'S WOULD LOWER. I TOOK IT IN TO GET IT REPAIRED AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED (BY MITSUBISHI) AS A TIMING BELT THAT WAS STRETCHED. I LOOKED ONLINE AN FOUND SCORES OF 2008 EVO'S WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES RIGHT AROUND THE SAME TIMEFRAME (AROUND 70K MILES). CLEARLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, YET OUT OF WARRANTY BY 10K. I ALSO LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THEY HAD YET TO MODIFY THE REPLACEM… |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 11073203 · 82,000 miMY ACTIVE CENTRAL DIFFERENTIAL PUMP FAILED. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO ALL OF THE FLUID WAS GONE SO I REFILLED IT. LAST WEEK IT WAS EMPTY AGAIN SO I FILLED IT AND THE FLUID JUST DUMPED OUT ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 82000 MILES ON IT. | 417.4%ODI 10511795 · 42,000 miDURING COLD WEATHER (APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES OR LESS) DURING THE EVENING, MY SUPER ALL-WHEEL-CONTROL SERVICING LIGHT WAS TRIGGERED DURING A LOW SPEED TURN. THIS INDICATES A FAULTY OR FAILING AWC/AYC PUMP, A MECHANICAL COMPONENT WHICH PROVIDES AYC FLUID TO THE FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF THE VEHICLE, AIDING IN STABILITY CONTROL. WHEN THE PUMP IS INOPERABLE, DECREASED (OR NO) PRESSURE/FLUID IS SENT TO THE DIFFERENTIALS OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DRIVETRAIN DAMAGE AND FAILURE-- THUS THE AYC PUMP IS RECOGNIZED BY MITSUBISHI AS A CR… |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 220.0%ODI 10210293 · 16,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GRIND. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE SRYNCO FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000. | 313.0%ODI 10238007 · 1,000 miTHE GEAR SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY NOTCHY AND CAUSE FREQUENT GRINDING WHEN SHIFTING TO GEARS 2 AND 3. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING. THE PROBLEM IS PRONOUNCED DURING COLD ENGINE CONDITIONS. GRINDING CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVEN IN WARM CONDITIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER AND SLOWED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SHIFT IN TIME DUE TO THE GRINDING. *TR |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 440.0%ODI 10153874 · 6,500 miI PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2005 A 2006 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION MR. AROUND LATE DECEMBER OF 2005 THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT GO INTO 6TH GEAR. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OF THE PROBLEM AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT'S GET IT CHECKED OUT. THE DAY BEFORE I WAS TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY FAILED THIS WAS ON JANUARY 26 OF 2006. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER A FEW DAYS THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT I WAS AT FAULT FOR THE WAY I DROVE THE CAR. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION OF THE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11045268 · 110,500 miWATER HAS MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE GROMMET IN THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL, DOWN THE HARNESS, AND RESTS IN THE CONNECTORS BEHIND THE KICK PANEL UNDER THE DASH. WIRES/CONNECTORS HAVE BECOME CORRODED CAUSING SEVERAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING: LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, AND NEITHER WILL THE ENGINE AFTER KEYS ARE REMOVED AND EVEN AFTER THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. | 110.0%ODI 10237238 · 40,000 mi1. SRS LIGHT, HORN GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, ANY AND ALL DASH FUNCTIONS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. 2. WATER LEAKING IN CABIN DUE TO IMPROPER SEAL OF A WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES THROUGH FIREWALL. CAUSED WIRING HARNESS TO BE CORRODED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. 3. DEALER REPLACED ALL WIRING HARNESSES IN INTERIOR OF CAR AND SEALED UP LEAKING AREA. *TR | 14.3%ODI 10513075 · 39,000 miTHIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE MITSUBISHI EVO X IF YOU LIVE IN A COLD AREA AND ROADS ARE SALTED FOR SNOW. THE LOCATION OF THE AWC PUMP IS NOT ENCLOSED ENOUGH SO THE SALT, ROAD CRAP GETS TO THE PUMP AND IT FAILS. MITSUBISHI SAID IT WOULD COST $2 GRAND TO REPLACE THE PUMP. YES $2 GRAND FOR A PUMP!!! MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND READ ABOUT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS. PLEASE HELP! *TR |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 313.0%ODI 10511795 · 42,000 miDURING COLD WEATHER (APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES OR LESS) DURING THE EVENING, MY SUPER ALL-WHEEL-CONTROL SERVICING LIGHT WAS TRIGGERED DURING A LOW SPEED TURN. THIS INDICATES A FAULTY OR FAILING AWC/AYC PUMP, A MECHANICAL COMPONENT WHICH PROVIDES AYC FLUID TO THE FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF THE VEHICLE, AIDING IN STABILITY CONTROL. WHEN THE PUMP IS INOPERABLE, DECREASED (OR NO) PRESSURE/FLUID IS SENT TO THE DIFFERENTIALS OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DRIVETRAIN DAMAGE AND FAILURE-- THUS THE AYC PUMP IS RECOGNIZED BY MITSUBISHI AS A CR… |
| Structure | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 28.7%ODI 10239442 · 1,200 miTHE CAR WILL KICK UP ANY SMALL ROCKS AND CHIP THE REAR DOORS AND SIDE SKIRTS. I HAVE INSTALLED MUD GUARDS, BUT DOES NOT HELP EITHER. *TR |
| Structure:Body | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 28.7%ODI 10250468PAINT CHIPPING PREMATURELY ON A NEW CAR. THE VEHICLE STARTED GETTING CHIPS ON THE FINISH JUST AFTER A FEW HUNDRED MILES. THIS HAPPENS ON THE LOWER PASSENGER DOOR AREAS. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD. I BELIEVE THIS IS COMING FROM THE TIRES. *TR |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | Too few reports for a range | 52,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10245006 · 52,000 miI HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2004 LANCER RALLIART. I HAD THE REAR SWAY BAR REPLACED, AND THEN I ALSO HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED IT WAS GOOD FOR 2 DAYS AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I HAD TO PAY ALOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. *TR |
| Suspension:Rear | Too few reports for a range | 52,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10245006 · 52,000 miI HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2004 LANCER RALLIART. I HAD THE REAR SWAY BAR REPLACED, AND THEN I ALSO HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED IT WAS GOOD FOR 2 DAYS AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I HAD TO PAY ALOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. *TR |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2006: 6 complaints · 2008: 7 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Equipment | Suspension:Front | Suspension:Rear | Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10371130I BOUGHT A 2004 LANCER OZ RALLY BRAND NEW, STILL DRIVE IT DAILY AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS PROBLEM TOO. IT WAS HARD TO TURN TO THE HEAT AND THE KNOB BROKE OFF. I CAN'T USE THE HEAT ANYMORE BECAUSE I CAN'T GET IT TO TURN AT ALL. I EVEN TRIED USING NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS (MINE STILL HAS SOME OF THE WHITE PLASTIC PART ATTACHED), WHICH WORKED A FEW TIMES BUT NOW I CAN'T GET IT TO TURN AT ALL. IN 2006, WHEN THE KNOB BROKE OFF, I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $800 TO REPAIR. I AS… |
| Suspension:Front | 0 | — | 1ODI 10245006 · 52,000 miI HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2004 LANCER RALLIART. I HAD THE REAR SWAY BAR REPLACED, AND THEN I ALSO HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED IT WAS GOOD FOR 2 DAYS AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I HAD TO PAY ALOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. *TR | 0 |
| Suspension:Rear | 0 | 1ODI 10245006 · 52,000 miI HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY 2004 LANCER RALLIART. I HAD THE REAR SWAY BAR REPLACED, AND THEN I ALSO HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED IT WAS GOOD FOR 2 DAYS AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I HAD TO PAY ALOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND NOW IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. *TR | — | 0 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1ODI 10371130I BOUGHT A 2004 LANCER OZ RALLY BRAND NEW, STILL DRIVE IT DAILY AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS PROBLEM TOO. IT WAS HARD TO TURN TO THE HEAT AND THE KNOB BROKE OFF. I CAN'T USE THE HEAT ANYMORE BECAUSE I CAN'T GET IT TO TURN AT ALL. I EVEN TRIED USING NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS (MINE STILL HAS SOME OF THE WHITE PLASTIC PART ATTACHED), WHICH WORKED A FEW TIMES BUT NOW I CAN'T GET IT TO TURN AT ALL. IN 2006, WHEN THE KNOB BROKE OFF, I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $800 TO REPAIR. I AS… | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.