Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Mitsubishi motors of America has a AWD ECU software update for vehicles specifically driven in cold conditions. Dealerships and Mitsubishi corporate have denied my claim to obtain this software because my car was sold in california and they have said it is not eligible. I take my vehicle every year up in the sierra nevada mountain range where temperature conditions are similar to any of the northern states within the service bulletin. The Mitsubishi service bulletin number is sc-09-002 also available here on google docs to read ( http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0bznigp9lgbk8ntu5otrinjgtztjhmc00mjy0lwi2nmmtowzhzju1nzfkndcz&hl=en) it states that "this reprogramming procedure will modify the all-wheel-control (awc) ECU software to accurately match the operations check of the ayc/acd motor with current ambient conditions. …
On Monday 2013 April 22 I [redacted] (owner of vehicle) was getting off my shift at approximately 0700 hours from bethel twp pd; where I work as a patrolman. The temperature was fairly mild 60-65f, I started my 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution 10 to let it warm up like I always have for approximately ten minutes. I put my evo in gear and on the center l.e.d. Screen I received the c161 message which indicates s-awc failure or super all wheel control. This effects everything with the cars' suspension stability, yaw control, and the "Smart breaking" feature. For an un-experienced driver this could be catastrophic. Knowing the importance of this I was forced to bring the car to springfield Mitsubishi in springfield, pa. [phone]. Now I'm stuck with a $2132.00 bill and the car is still in the lot because I don't have the $2132.00 to "shell" out. …
This vehicle is equipped with an active control differential (acd) which is actuated by the acd hydraulic pump. The acd is a part of the vehicle's all wheel drive system. After giving the engine an 8 minute warm up on idle, the vehicle was being driven on a 20f of ambient temperature. The vehicle was on a stop light, and upon gently accelerating the car on green light a warning light came up on the vehicle's dash board. The vehicle was brought to the nearest Mitsubishi service shop 4 days after the incident with the warning light still on the vehicle's dash board. After service technician worked on the vehicle, the service manager said that the acd pump is the problem which needs to be replaced and will cost $2100 of parts and labor. …
When starting my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution gsr, I received a warning message on the cluster display showing a yellow-orange symbol that shows 4 wheels connected by axles and the middle-shaft, where the front two wheels are facing at an angle to the side. The error code read as c161e: DTC c161e: electric pump relay circuit system (stuck). This has become a very common issue with the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. So common that when you search for the code c161e, you can find countless forum discussions on multiple websites commenting on the frequency of this issue. Including myself, a single discussion identifies at least 48 unique cars, 42 of which are the 2008 model year, where the acd pump failed, all of which having driven fewer than 75,000 miles and nearly 60% with less than 50,000 miles (http://www.evoxforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58221&highlight=c161e&page=1). …
Acd (active center differential) pump has failed and without this pump providing pressure to the all wheel drive system, the vehicle gets stuck on driveways at a stop where the tire and wheel packages are on different elevated surfaces. The reason the pump has failed is due to placement of the pump on the vehicle. Mitsubishi has designed the vehicle to have the pump to be located directly behind the rear passenger wheel. Due to this, while driving on severe weather roads (particularly snow salted roads), the dirt, water and salt gets kicked up to the position of the pump which corrodes the fittings and the pump itself. This then causes the pump to fail over time. It could have been easily remedied by relocating the pump or anti-corrosion protection and better sealing. …
I have a 2008 Lancer Evolution. The service required light for the all wheel drive system came on. I only had around 59000 miles on the car when this happen. I took it to the dealership and they said it was an internal fault in the awc pump. They said it would cost $2250 plus tax to replace. So I called Mitsubishi to see if they would replace the pump for free since it is a safety concern. They said no since my 3 year or 36000 mile warranty was up. A lot of evolutions in colder climates have been having this same problem. The cold weather makes the fluid in the awc pump to thick and it causes it to burn up. Without the pump working the all wheel drive system is not functioning right and May cause a wreck if it locks up. Mitsubishi even released an awc ECU reprogramming flash to try to keep the pumps going out in cold weather. …
A few months after I purchased my used evo x with 30,000 miles and a 5 yr/ 60,000 mile warranty, I noticed a puddle of fluid accumulating while it was parked in the rear passenger side of the vehicle. I soon did research to determine where it was coming from. I learned my ayc/acd pump is leaking, after further investigating it turns out this pump is notorious for leaking and failing. The Mitsubishi dealer denied my warranty claim and I was never given a reason, even after asking why. I have since then contacted a third party dispute center. This pumps the necessary fluid to the front and rear of the all wheel drive assemblies. If this pump fails, it will ultimately destroy the entire drive train/ all wheel drive system. Resulting in it locking up, causing the driver to loose control. …
The s-awc or super all wheel control system on the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution helps the all wheel drive to actually work. I had a service message pop up on my car with the s-awc system being indicated. After reviewing the car's manual and the internet to help diagnose the issue of why it was causing it, I'm told there is an ever-increasing number of vehicles with this s-awc pump failure either in super cold conditions or very hot conditions. This has the potential to be very dangerous if the pump ends up going out when someone is making a turn or is relying on the all-wheel drive to actually work in adverse conditions. The only notable change is a difference in steering feel and the service message popping up after several minutes of driving, though due to safety reasons, I am trying not to push the car too hard until the problem is addressed.
Saturday morning I warmed up my car for 5 minutes. Started to drive my car for about 15 seconds, AWD service required popped up on my display. I stopped the car and brought it back home. Looked up what the issue could be and found out that the acd pump has failed. This is a well known problem from Mitsubishi for these cars and they have not issued a recall or real fix. Without the acd pump functioning, there is a possibility that the car can lose traction in certain situations or damage the entire drivetrain system. Mitsubishi claims that its not part of the drivetrain so there is no warranty and it's also a "luxury" system. Controlling wheel traction is not a luxury its a safety feature.
I started my car and the awc service light came on. I came to a controlled stop, and restarted the car per the instructions in the vehicle manual. Upon restart, the same service light came on. After the dealer ran a diagnostic, it was found that the high pressure pump for the active stability control system had failed. I was told that this part was not part of the drive train and would not be covered under warranty. The day the pump failed it was very cold and there was packed snow on the roadways. If I was driving at higher speeds and this pump had failed, I believe the automobile would not have behaved as expected with the awc stability active.
Related recalls
Power train › Manual transmission
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured from December 12, 2007, through March 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the clutch master cylinder can fail.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected clutch master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2013. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.
Transmission complaints in other Lancer Evolution years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, 72% of the model year's 36 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 13V-446 (manual transmission, Sep 19, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 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.