2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Complaint Log

MITSU HQ HAS CIRCULATED A SERVICE ADVISORY TO DEALERS TO CONSIDER "ANY MODIFICATION TO VEHICLE FOR POSSIBLE PERIPHERAL RELATIONSHIP TO ANY FAILURE." VERBALLY, SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE SAYING THAT THE TOTAL CAR WARRANTY IS VOIDED BY ADDITION OF ANY AFTERMARKET MODIFICATION. ADDITION OF A-M STEREO IS CONSIDERED GOOD CAUSE TO VOID ENGINE WARRANTY -- COMPLETE CAR WARRANTY. AND THAT THIS ADVISORY IS BEING PROVIDED IN WRITING TO DEALERS. I OBTAINED A COPY. THE ADVISORY DID NOT STATE "DIRECTLY RELATED" WHICH WOULD MAKE SENSE, BUT ALLOWED FOR WARRANTY CANCELLATION DUE TO "PERIPHERALLY RELATED" WHICH IS ANYBODY'S GUESS. SUGGEST THAT THIS VIOLATES THE MAGNUSSON ACT, AND THIS PRACTICE BY MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. CHANGING A CATBACK EXHAUST SYSTEM SEEMS UNRELATED TO A CLUTCH FAILURE, YET OWNERS ARE GETTING WARRANTY REJECTIONS FOR SUCH MINOR MODIFICATIONS. THANK YOU

I AM A CHEMICALLY SENSITIVE INDIVIDUAL HAVING BEEN POISENED 9 YEARS AGO. I DID NOT RECOGINIZE THE HAZARDS BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP COMPLIED WITH MY REQUEST TO NOT DETAIL CAR WITH CHEMICALS, BUT THE OFF GASSING OF THE PLASTICS, VINYLS, CARPETS, MATERIALS AND ? (I DO NOT KNOW IF I HAVE OVER LOOKED SOMETHING ELSE) HAS CAUSED MUSCLE PAIN, HEADACHES, NAUSEA, FATIGUE, PASSING OUT AT THE WHEEL, WEAKNESS IN MY LIMBS, INTERNAL CRAMPING AND ECZEMA ON MY HANDS. THE SEAT IS TOTALLY INCORRECTLY DESIGNED FOR SHORTER PEOPLE AND THE ADJUSTMENT IN THE SEAT DOES NOT WORK TO COMPENSATE CAUSING EXTREMELY LOWER TO MID BACK PAIN SO SEVERE IT CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN WALKING, SITTING AND NAUSEA. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INADEQUATE, UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE PRODUCT.

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. 4) IT _IS_ A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE HAD THIS OCCUR UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, ONLY TO BE MET WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE A WALL WHEN THE ERROR CODE IS THROWN AND THE ECU RETARDS THE TIMING BECAUSE IT IS DETECTING KNOCK (WHICH IS NOT ACTUALLY OCCURRING). 5) MITSUBISHI (MMNA) IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF AN ECU REFLASH FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM (THE HARMONIC RESONANCE ISSUE, NOT THE INJECTOR ISSUE). THEY HAVE CLAIMED THAT THE FLASH WILL BE OUT "WITHIN 3-6 WEEKS" SINCE NOVEMBER 2003, AND IT IS STILL NOT OUT NOR AVAILABLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS HELD UP IN EPA CERTIFICATION. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FOR ME LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TIMES, AND NO DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE MITSUBISHI WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY WARRANTY WORK ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, CITING THAT "A FIX IS ALREADY ON THE WAY, WAIT FOR IT." *NM

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND MY CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 3000 MILES COSTING NEARLY 1500 DOLLARS AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MITSUBISHI. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A AFTERMARKET CLUTCH I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH AS OF YET AND IT HAS 17000 MILES ON IT. *LA

MY MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION 8 CLUTCH STOPPED WORKING AT APPROX. 12,000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALER AND I WAS DENIED A WARRANTY CLAIM. I NEVER DONE IT HARD OR EVEN TOOK IT TO A RACE TRACK. *AK

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW WITH 26 MILES. 6 MONTHS LATER AND 17000 MILES THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND NOT INGAUGING. IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN MOVE. THE RPM WOULD JUST RAISE, EVEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 6500 IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE CAR NOT RESPONDING. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SHIP HERE IN TOWN WOULD NOT EVEN WANT TO COVER IT OR TOUCH IT.*AK

CLUTCH FAILED AT 10K000 MILES. CAR WAS NEVER RACED OR ABUSED. COST OF REPAIR $1600.OT COVERED UNDER NEW CAR WARRENTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS LISTED AS A COVERABLE ITEM IN THE WARRENTY BOOK. DEALER DENIED ANY PROBLEM UPON INITIAL INSPECTION. CAR WAS DRIVEN AN APPROX 300 MILES B4 PROBLEM BECAME UNBEARABLE AND DEALER AGREED THAT THERE WAS AN ACTUAL PROBLEM.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES. THE TEMPERATURE KNOB, WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING HAS NOW BROKEN OFF. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE COME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THIS IS WITH MINIMAL RESEARCH ON MY PART. INITIALLY SWITCHING THE TEMPERATURE KNOB FROM HOT TO COLD WAS DIFFICULT AT BEST. I OFTEN HAD TO REQUEST A GROWN MAN TO HELP ME JUST SO I COULD DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. I DID BRING THE ISSUE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOME, WHICH HAS SINCE CLOSED, AND THEY INFORMED ME THE KNOB WOULD NOT BREAK. WELL.....THE KNOB BROKE AND NOW I HAVE TO USE A NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS TO CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND IT BEGINS TO RAIN OR SNOW, ETC. AND YOU NEED TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE YOU CANNOT. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY IN HASTE BECAUSE MY WINDSHIELD IS FOGGING UP AND I NEED TWO HANDS IN ORDER TO SWITCH MY TEMPERATURE KNOB. MITSUBISHI HAS GOT TO BE AWARE OF THIS SINCE APPARENTLY A TECHNICAL REPORT HAD BEEN SENT TO THEIR MECHANICS ADVISING HOW TO FIX THIS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION I HAVE READ MITSUBISHI ACTUALLY HAS A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY FOR THE CAR OWNER THE COST FOR THE TOTAL REPAIR IS $800-$900. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE THAT MITSUBISHI WAS ALLOWED TO SELL CARS IN 2002, 2003, AND 2004 GET AWAY WITH NOT REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM.

CAR IS RUSTING ON REAR BUMPER SUPPORTS, CAR HAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR JUST OVER 2 MONTHS. *JB

MY VEHICLE HAD REPEATEDLY SHOWN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR A MISFIRE CODE. EVERY TIME I GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT,THE CAR VIBRATES AND LOSES AT LEAST 45% POWER. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSIS 7 PLUS TIMES. HELL, THEY EVEN REBUILT THE ENGINE IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM! THAT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *LA *JB

WHEN MY MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION VIII HAD 3,600 MILES ON IT, THE CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING -- THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE CLUTCH WAS A "WEAR ITEM," AND REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. *LA

BRAND NEW MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION BLOWS ENGINE AFTER 6,000 MILES. SAID CUSTOMER NEGLECT BUY CANNOT PROVE IT. *LA

THE CLUTCH FAILED IN THE FIRST 8500 MILES OF OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO PASS ON A 2 LANE ROAD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE. *PH

UNDER THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP OF MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, MY CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED MY DEALER AND WENT IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER BUT BEFORE ANY QUESTIONS HE ASSUMED I HAD ABUSED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHECK FOR PROBLEMS IF I PAID TO THE COST OF A TEARDOWN BEFORE ANYTHING. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS STILL IN THE "BREAK-IN" PERIOD AND DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY. HE DID NOT CARE AND SAID MANY PEOPLE ABUSE THIS CAR, SO HE STILL WOULD NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND. FURTHERMORE, WHILE BEING AT THE DEALER FOR OTHER PROBLEMS, SOMEONE HAD TAKEN MY CAR FOR 20 MILES WITHOUT ANY EXPLAINATION. I LET HIM KNOW ABOUT THIS AND HE STILL INSISTED THAT I WAS ABUSING THE CLUTCH AND WOULD ONLY ALLOW AN INSPECTION IF I PAID THE LABOR FOR A TEARDOWN FIRST. BASICALLY, THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF MITSUBISHI WAS UNREASONABLE AND WOULD NOT LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS. *AK

2 MONTHS AGO APPROX. I PURCHASED A MITSUBSHI EVOLUTION VIII. RECENTLY THE CLUTCH FAILED CAUSING GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK. THE VEHICLE LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. THE CLUTCH FAILED QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER BRIEF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MANY CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AS HIGH AS 35 PERCENT. EVENTUALLY THIS WILL CAUSE AN INJURY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND HAD NO HELP FOR ME, ASIDE FROM THE FREE TOW. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS ONLY 550.00 FROM AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE FACILITY. MITSUBSHI INFORMED ME THAT THIS REPAIR WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND WOULD VOID THE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. THE DEALERS QUOTE WAS 950.00. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I THANK A RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER, EVEN IF MITSUBSHI WAS WILLING TO REPAIR THE CLUTCHES FOR FREE, THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ADEQUATE UPDATED REPAIR OR PART. *PH

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. THE CHIPS ARE TINY, BUT THEY ARE IN A PLACE ON THE CAR THAT WILL BE VERY SUSCEPTABLE TO RUST. I STARTED NOTICING THE PROBLEMS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A IMPROPERLY ALIGNED REAR DOOR. SO FAR I HAVE ONLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, WHICH BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND TO GET A HOLD OF HIS INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY SHOULD SOLVE HIS PROBLEM. *PH

CONTINUING CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. 1. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2003 IT HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AND THEN SUDDENLY INCREASING YOUR SPEED WHILE SAY PASSING OR SPEEDING UP, ONCE YOU LET OFF THE GAS TO RETURN TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY REV AND WILL NOT STOP INCREASING SPEED UNTIL YOU RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY HITTING THE BRAKE OR THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO DISENGAGE THE CONTROL. 2. IT HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME THEN INCREASE SPEED FOR SHORT DISTANCES AND TRY TO RETURN TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED THAT THE WOULD NEED TO DRIVE SAY 20 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME AND TOLD ME THAT THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MITSUBISHI AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE ON THEIR WEBSITE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION IN A RAINSTORM, I ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE LOSS OF ACCELERATION MULTIPLE TIMES. RESULTING IN ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR.*AK OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THEIR LANCER EVOLUTIONS DOCUMENTED HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.EVOLUTIONM.NET/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=34867

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AT FIRST GEAR ON 2003 LANCER ES. THIS CAR IS ONLY A YEAR OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 6,000 MILES ON IT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *LA

IN AUGUST, 2003, MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII CLUTCH FAILED WITH ONLY 5000 MILES ON IT. DEALER DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE AS "WEAR ITEM". ARBITRATION FAILED TO PRODUCE A FAVORABLE RESULT, ALTHOUGH SERVICE WRITER STATED "IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ABUSE" AND AFADAVIT FROM ASE MASTER MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE NO ABUSE INVOLVED.*AK

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. AFTER BROWSING THE INTERNET, I FOUND MANY LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WITH THE END RESULT BEING THAT THE OWNER OF THE CAR IS AT FAULT AND NOT THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER. ONE REFERENCE # IS 10063730 NHTSA COMPLAINT ID: 464401 ENTERED MARCH 23, 2004.*AK

CONTINUATION OF ODI#10023954--WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF REPAIR ON TRANSMISSION (REPLACED VALVE BODY)--CAR REPEATED THE SAME SYMPTOMS WOULD NOT KICK INTO GEAR TO GET ON FREEWAY OR WOULD JERK AND LURCH, SLIPPING AND STICKING. THE DEALER REPLACED 6 PARTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF TRANSMISSION--NEVER LOOKED INSIDE FOR INTERNAL DAMAGE EVEN THOUGH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS PROBABLY INTERNAL DAMAGE WHEN THE VALVE BODY FAILED. *LA

AT AROUND 9500 MILES THE CAR BEGAN STICKING, SLIPPING GEARS, JAMMING INTO GEAR. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED BODY VALVE, WHICH THEY ORDERED AND SENT ME HOME FOR 10 DAYS WAITING FOR THE PART--MEANWHILE THE CAR PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE, MAKING ENTERING THE FREEWAY QUESTIONABLE, ETC. AFTER 10 DAYS IT BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING--TOOK CAR BACK IN--THEY SENT ME HOME WHILE THEY TRIED TO REACH MITSUBISHI...WHEN I DEMANDED RENTAL STATING I DID NOT FEEL SAFE (I CALLED MITSUBISHI, WHO INTERVENED AND HAD ME TAKE CAR BACK TO DEALER UNTIL IT IS FIXED). DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE ORDERING 6 MORE TRANSMISSION PARTS BASED ON MITSUBISHI'S ADVICE. MEANWHILE, I SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WORKED FOR MITSUBISHI, WHO SAID THAT IF THE BODY VALVE FAILED, THERE IS PROBABLY INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT TALKING ON THE PHONE AND ORDERING PARTS IS NOT FIXING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM--ALSO THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER HAVE TO BE IN SYNC, AND A DAMAGED TRANSMISSION COULD AFFECT THE COMPUTER OF THE CAR. SO WE HAVE TECHS TALKING BACK AND FORTH ON THE PHONE, A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS TALKING TO A TECH HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY, AND NEITHER PARTY HAS SEEN THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION....I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A DEFECTIVE CAR AND AM RUNNING TO THE SHOP WHICH IS JUST PUTTING BANDAIDS ON THE PROBLEM.

POOR PAINT QUALITY ON 2003 EVOLUTIONS. AFTER TWO MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL PAINT CHIPS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE CAR JUST BEFORE THE REAR WHEEL OPENING. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SCRATCHES AND CHIPS ON THE FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS SEEM TO NOT HAVE BEEN CLEAR COATED, SINCE EVERY TIME I WAX THE CAR, THE PAINT COLOR APPEARS ON THE PAD. *AK

CONSUMER OWNED A 2003 LANCER EVOLUTION VIII AND NOTICED VERY POOR PAINT QUALITY. ON A CAR THAT COST AS MUCH, AND WAS AS EXCLUSIVE AS THIS ONE , ONE WOULD THINK IT WOULDN'T CHIP AND SCRATCH SO EASILY.*AK

LANCER OZ RALLY EDITION: WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH CRUISE CONTROL, OCCURING AT ANY SPEED IN WHICH CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION IS USED: WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AND ACCELERATING AT SET SPEED, CAR WOULD ACCELERATE EXCESSIVELY FOR VERY MINIMAL INCLINES. WHEN USING THE COAST FUNCTION, VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN UNTIL YOU LET OFF THE SWITCH, AND THEN SPEED WOULD RAPIDLY INCREASE BEYOND PREVIOUS POSITION, BEFORE FINALLY SETTLING BACK TO THE REDUCED SPEED CHOSEN. WHEN USING THE ACCELERATE OPTION, VEHICLE WOULD SPEED UP WHEN SWITCH USED AND WOULD CONTINUE FAST ACCELERATION AFTER RELEASE OF SWITCH. WOULD INCREASE ABOUT 2-3 MILES PER HOUR PAST RELEASE OF THE SWITCH AND THEN FINALLY SETTLE BACK TO THE FASTER SPEED CHOSEN. NOTIFIED LOCAL DEALERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DO THIS AND WHEN TRYING TO COAST WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL I HAVE HAD TO APPLY BREAKS RAPIDLY TO AVOID CAR FROM SPEEDING TO FASTLY, POSSIBLY HITTING SLOW MOVING VEHICLES INFRONT OF ME. ALSO, LOCAL DEALERSHIP DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A RECIEPT SHOWING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR SAID PROBLEM, OR THAT ANY THING HAD BEEN DONE TO CHECK FOR IT....I ONLY HAD THE WORD OF THE SERVICE WRITER.

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, AND VEHICLE WOBBLED FROM FOUR TO SIX INCHES TO EITHER SIDE. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN INFORMED.*AK

TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER IS FAILING--WENT TO GET ON FREEWAY AND HAD NO SPEED--PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT FINALLY KICKED INTO GEAR. IT LURCHES AND JERKS AND SLIPS GEARS. THE MITSUBISHI SERVICE DEPT. TRIED TO TELL ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT--WHEN I TOOK THE TECHNICIAN FOR A RIDE WE GOT TEN FEET AND IT JERKED AND CLICKED INTO GEAR--THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION BODY VALVE IS FAILING--ORDERED THE PART--TOLD ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED EVEN THOUGH IT IS GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY, AND I AM LEARY OF DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEEL EITHER THIS IS A DEFECT OR I GOT A LEMON. MORE TO COME AFTER THE REPAIR. *NLM

CLUTCH FAILURE 2 TIMES BEFORE 6000 MILES. 2003 LANCER EVOLUTION.*AK

PAINT SWIRLS AND SCRATCHES EASILY. CAR HAS LESS THAN 1500 MILES AND HAS ALREADY ACQUIRED SEVERAL SCRATCHES IN PAINT. *NLM

I HAVE THE 2003 OZ RALLY MITSUBISHI LANCER AND HAVE HAD A PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY WITH SMALL PAINT CHIPS OCCURRING WITH VERY LITTLE IMPACT AGAINST THE CAR, AND SCRATCHES TO THE CLEARCOAT ARE HAPPENING WITH LITTLE CONTACT... IF YOU BARELY BRUSH AGAINST THE CAR THE CLEARCOAT INSTANTLY DEVELOPS A WHITE SCRATCH MARK. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS BARELY 2 MONTHS OLD. *AK

I'VE OWNED MY 03 MITSU EVOLUTION VIII FOR 1 YEAR AND I HAVE PUT 16,700 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING AND IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE IT WILL REQUIRE 8 HOURS OF LABOR AND A BETTER CLUTCH JUST TO GET IT WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WITH IN REASON TO BABY THIS THING. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

I'VE HAD A THROW OUT BEARING METAL TO METAL RUBBING NOISE FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION VIII. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO ASK IF I SHOULD BE CONCERNED. I WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD TOLD NOT TO WORRY UNLESS THE NOISE GETS WORSE. SINCE THEN MY CLUTCH HAS BEGUN TO CHATTER IN COLD WEATHER VIOLENTLY, AND OCCATIONALLY IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER. MY PEDAL THROW HAS BEEN VERY FAR FROM THE FLOOR FROM DAY ONE AND I JUST ASSUMED THIS WAS THE NATURE OF THE CAR. I LATER FOUND FROM A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE EXACT SAME DEALERSHIP THAT UPON RECEIVING THE VERY FIRST SHIPMENT OF EVOLUTIONS, BOTH VEHICLES RECEIVED WERE TAKEN OUT AND DRIVEN BY ALL THE MANAGMENT AND EMPLOYEES AT THE DEALERSHIP AND VIOLENTLY ABUSED AND PRESSED FURTHER THEN THEY WERE MENT TO BE USED FOR. I HAVE TWO SEPARATE PEOPLE WITH MATCHING STORIES WHO WORKED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP TELL ME THAT MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE TWO VEHICLES WHICH THEY TOOK OUT FOR A JOY RIDE. SO MY CLUTCH PROBLEM IS EITHER A: A DEFECTIVE DESIGN, OR B: ABUSE FRO MTHE DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 EVOLUTION IS SOMETIMES VERY ROUGH GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. THE TRANNY FEELS AS IF THE GEARS ARE GRINDING FOR A SECOND BEFORE ENGAGING; I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE ATTENTION OF MITUSBISHI CORPORATE AND SEVERAL SERVICE DEPTS AND THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCEREND. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT A LOT OF EVOLUTION OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING.*AK

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ANY RECALLS INVOLVING 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. MR *JB

PAINT CHIPS AND CRACKS EASILY; TREE SAP AND BIRD DROPPINGS EAT THROUGH PAINT EVEN IF WASHED OFF WITHIN A FEW HOURS; THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 6-MONTH OLD VEHICLE. *NLM

REQUEST FOR RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING AIR BAG DEFECTS ON 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCERS.

WHEN I DRIVE MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES AT 20 MPH AND WANT TO INCREASE THE SPEED AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPM OF THE CAR WILL INCREASE AND THE SPEED OF THE CAR WILL DECREASE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SPEED WILL INCREASE AS IF THE GEARS IN THE AUTO TRANSMISSION JUST ENGAGED. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BUT IT HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED MY TRANS. FLUID. I SUSPECT THE AUTO TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *JB

THE PAINT JOB ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES IS VERY POOR. A VERY LIGHT CONTACT MAKES A SCRATCH ON THE PAINT. I HAVE THIS CAR FOR ABOUT AN YEAR NOW BUT AFTER THE DEALER WASHED MY CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, I CAN SEE THE SCRATCHES ON THE HOOD. THE DEALER IS NOT ACCEPTING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I WOULD SAY THE CAR OF THIS PRICE SHOULD HAVE MUCH BETTER PAINT AND SHOULDN'T SCRATCH THAT EASILY. *LA

SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING; BUT TOLD THAT THE KNOBS ARE A LITTLE HARD TO TURN AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THE CONTROLS FINALLY BECAME INOPERABLE; WHICH PUTS OUR SAFETY AT RISK. HVAC CONTROLS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH A MECHANICAL FLAW WHICH MAKES THE DEFROSTING, HEATING, AND AC COMPONENTS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERABLE. TSB 055-003 HAS BEEN ISSUED PUTTING THE REPAIR ON THE CONSUMER FOR A DESIGN FLAW WHICH PUT MOTORIST AT RISK ESPECIALLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *TR

2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE BUT MITSUBISHI STATES THAT IT WAS FIXED IN JUNE 2008.. CONSUMER WAS THE OWNER AT THAT TIME. *NJ A MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONSUMER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CLUTCH FAILURE AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A SPONTANEOUS A LACK OF ACCELERATION WHILE INADVERTENTLY LOSING POWER. THERE WAS A SERIOUS CLUTCH PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM. *AK