Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to roll out of the road and she was unable to steer back into the road. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle rolled over into a ditch. The contact stated no air bags deployed. The contact stated the driver hit her head and sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V279000 (Structure, Suspension). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
Our car crashed after getting off the highway in NJ. This appears to be related to Safety Recall Report 20V-279. The cross member has completely rusted and the driver side control arm came off, crashing the car and severely damaging the car, with loss of control. I have contacted Mitsubishi Motors but have received no response from them. There was no warning sign, and the car was on the highway at highway speeds before an exit ramp was taken when the car crashed.
At 50 km/h, when turning the steering wheel to the left of 90 degree, the vehicle was not turning and going straight forward. Some sound of tire-metal was being heard from the front left wheel. With someone outside, we were seeing at low speed that the wheel was rotating off axis and even touching the car body. After being towing to a canadian tire, the technician mentioned that the cross member was so rotten it was actually breaking in two parts and it was so dangerous, he could not let me go without part replacement. The mechanic technician told me that other Lancer had the problem even a 2009 Lancer. They referred me to the transport Canada recall # 2016317, however this one is only for Lancer 2003 to 2006 (and also outlanders). Note that my problem was the same car part as the recall mentioned above. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact received notification of NHTSA recall number: 20V279000 (structure, suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Serra Honda (951 interstate pkwy, akron, oh 44312) was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, without warning, the contact loss control of the steering wheel as the driver's side of the vehicle lowered independently. The vehicle was towed to the residence and inspected. The contact became aware that the driver's side lower control arm was fractured. …
I purchased a used 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer with 163K miles on it from a third party. I took it to the dealership for two open recalls. The dealer called me the next morning and explained to me that the subframe is corroded and will need to be replaced. In fact the dealer advised the vehicle not be driven and the part be replaced immediately because it is unsafe to drive. Now I have a vehicle I can't drive or sell. The repair itself is more than the car is worth. The subframe is part of the frame and is not a maintenance item and should last the life of the vehicle. This is a manufacturing defeat as shown in the recall for Canada on 2008-2013 Lancer models. I called the factory and was given the run around. I asked for a meeting between the dealership and a factory rep to find an appropriate solution but nothing has materialized. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became very loose. The contact stated that the steering wheel moved from the center while attempting to drive straight. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the crossmember on the driver's side of the vehicle had rusted through and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V458000 (suspension). The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer informed that the contact that NHTSA campaign number: 16V458000 (suspension) was for vehicle model year 2002-2007 and not for 2008. The approximate failure mileage was 168,000.
I was driving my car to work this morning and all of a sudden I felt a drastic pull to the left. I get out of the car and look at all sides of the vehicle and don't notice anything right away. Then I notice my left front wheel is turned slightly while the steering wheel is straight. I look under the vehicle to find the sub frame rotted and rusted away from the control arm. This is a huge safety issue as this car has 123K miles and being a 2008 car, just 1 year later than the recalls currently up to 2007 for the same exact issue. The recall should be extended to the 2008 vehicles as well due to the insane amount of complaints on this specific sub frame rotting issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the cross member and k frame fractured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was placed on a lift, inspected the vehicle, and diagnosed that there was extensive rust and corrosion. The dealer indicated that the parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was left at the dealer. The contact was waiting on a response from the manufacturer to determine if the contact would approve the dealer's repair. The VIN was excluded from a manufacturer recall. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. While driving 5 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard while the front driver's tire faced the opposite direction. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the cross member subframe was corroded, fractured, and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that the crossmember beams were rusted through. The vehicle was taken to max matson Mitsubishi dealer located at 3990 ogden ave, aurora, il 60504, where the vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V279000 (structure, suspension). The contact stated that the manufacturer declined to provide a reimbursement because the repairs were over two years old. The failure mileage was 116,727.
Suspension complaints in other Lancer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the suspension of the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, 25% of the model year's 91 complaints. The component named most often is front (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 117,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.