Most common 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems
Share of the 98 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution complaints by model year
Best Lancer Evolution years: 2009, 2015, 2014. Years to avoid: 2003, 2008, 2010, 2006. Compare all years →
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls (2)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
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, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,…
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced…
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the label. The recall began on May 31, 2004. Owners should contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.
What 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 65 →
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. …
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. …
Engine & cooling
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. Fix is either to remove the check for the knock sensor or replace the input shaft at a cost of about 4000 dollars to replace a known manufacturing defect. Manufacture chose not to issue recall even though there are many complaints such as this on this databoard. Manufacture does not inform customer voluntarily when a problem is noted on the car and submit recommendation for fix.
P0300 multi-cylinder random misfire. After many attempts made my Mitsubishi, this problem has never been fixed. On average, this happens 3-4 times daily, everyday and hinders driveability. Mitsubishi has issued parts to be warranted and has denied all responsibility. Mitsubishi has quoted that the ses (check engine light) in no way, when illuminated, affects driveability, value, mechanical functions of the vehicle. Therefore, in short, they are claiming that the light is just for show. I have written proof from Mitsubishi with that statement denying all claims and not taking any responsibility.
Electrical system
The heater control knob (hot/cold adjust) was difficult to turn. This was noted to the dealership after I bought the car. In addition, the magazine, motortrend, identified this issue in its review of evo vs sti. The dealer said that the part was known to sometimes stick but would be fine. About 3 months ago, 12/4/11, the knob completely broke off. The issue was covered by a TSB, however, the dealer did not state that the issue was known to have a fix. This is a common cause failure for all 03 lancers and outbacks. The manufacture has chosen not to issue a recall, but is currently waiting until the part completely fails and hopes it happens after warranty expires so it will be covered by the customer. This issue causes 2 problems. …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. At 65,000 miles, the vehicle would not turn off when the key was released from the ignition. The only way to turn off the vehicle was by removing a fuse. The windshield wipers would activate by themselves. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the failure was due to a corroded wiring harness. The failure was corrected temporarily, but then the windshield wipers, high beams, fog lights, headlights, and parking lights failed. He took the vehicle back to the dealer and was informed that five wiring harnesses needed to be replaced. The vehicle is not currently repaired due to the cost of the repair. The current mileage was 65,000 and failure mileage was 75,000.
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution a good car?
Based on 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Lancer Evolution rates avoid: 7.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Lancer Evolution at the same age. It is one of the Lancer Evolution years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
The transmission & drivetrain — 65 complaints, 66% of all complaints for this model year, most often about clutch assembly. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and electrical system (9).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the most recent from June 23, 2016 (lower arm). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2015 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2008, 2010 and 2006. See the full Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 12,000 miles; 86% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.