Mitsubishi · Lancer · 2008
5
Recalls
91
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer has 5 recalls and 91 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine (11 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.
Remedy Status
Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.
MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 39,711 MY 2008-2009 OUTLANDER AND LACER VEHICLES. INCORRECT MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE MAY CAUSE THE CHECK VALVE TO STICK CLOSED WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RE-STARTED AND PUT INTO MOTION, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS (VERY SLOW VEHICLE MANEUVERS), THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT INITIAL BRAKING ASSIST.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER AND LANCER EVOLUTION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE HEAVY ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, A LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO A MIXTURE OF MELTED SNOW WITH SALT THROWN UP BY THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD MAY CAUSE A WATER-SALT MIXTURE TO ADHERE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS THAT HAVE IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AT 1-888-648-7820.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy Status
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 with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.
Remedy Status
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.
The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after a while the system would erase any safety information used to track mileage and only show the GPS feature on the digital screen with information from 2004. The contact stated he used the digital screen for the safety features. Upon further inspection, the battery would be drained at an abnormal rate while using the Bluetooth features, and the Bluetooth would not work outside of the local dealer parking lot. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the digital screen and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
We had car at a car dealer and the manufacturer declined doing the recall on the car for corrison on the front crossmember, telling us due to car has a total loss record on Carfax. The vehicle total loss record was for a accident that didn't effect that part of the car that's under recall, it was due to vehicle repairs were more then what car was worth. The piece I think they call it crossmember has rust holes through it and is about to come apart at the rusted holes on the part. We buy the car JA3AU86U18U016308 in 2022 for our daughter to drive to college. Just finding out when we took it into the car place to perform this recall they won't do the recall because of Mitsubishi. I filled this out for my dad, he bought car for me.
The dealership that is repairing the drive belt recall, is attempting to charge me for the replacement of a damaged pulley.
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.
The airbags light came on after I bought the car and I am afraid of I get in an accident they will not deploy my mechanic said I would have to go to a car dealership about it... The brakes also fail if I try to stop abruptly they go to the floor and do not stop the vehicle... The brakes are the worst when I am driving slowly and try to come to a stop. I have taken my car to the dealership and was told that my brakes are in good condition and the mechanic didn't understand why the car was having issues stopping.
Air bag light turn on and off
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS -TEARING BUSHINGS, TORN BOOTS BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS - TORN BOOTS TIMING COVER SEPARATE
I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. PARKED AND FOUND ROTTEN PARTS ON TIRE. MECHANIC SAID IT CANNOT BE FIXED. EVERYTHING ROTTED. NEEDS WHOLE NEW FRAME. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.THANK GOD I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. NOW I HAVE NOTHING BUT AN EXISTING CAR LOAN FOR IT.
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. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM SHORKEY MITSUBISHI (13339 RTE 30, IRWIN, PA 15642) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND DAMAGED THE CROSSMEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATE 32,393.
HAS ACTIVE RECALL I WANT THE SUNROOF REPLACE NOT JUST INSPECTED I WANT IT FIXED TO AVOID FUTURE PROBLEM OF FLYING OFFER LEAKING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V279000 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED SUNNYSIDE MITSUBISHI (7630 PEARL RD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH 44130; (440) 243-7711) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT*JB
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING THE LIGHT STATING SLOW DOWN APPEARS ON DASHBOARD I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TURN OFF ENGINE AND WAIT BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MINS BEFORE IM ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING ON THE 2008 ,2009 AND 2016 FROM MY UNDERSTANDING ITS THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE USED ON ON THOSE YEARS OF VEHICLES NOW WEATHER OR NOT ITS MECHANICAL OR POOR DESIGNED TRANSMISSIONS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE PUT A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS
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 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. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LANCERS ON THE ROADS TODAY AND I WOULD HATE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE CORRODED SUBFRAMES WHERE THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS COULD FALL TO THE GROUND.
MY SRS LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID IT WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND IS ONLY TO REMOVE THE LIGHT...BUT THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD STILL DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE WERE REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS) BUT IT PUSHED US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US (WHICH SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS). SEEING AS THIS LIGHT JUST CAME ON WAY BEFORE ANY ACCIDENTS AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANYTHING WE DID, I BELIEVE IT TO BE FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING. YET, MITSUBISHI HAS NEVER BEEN PUSHED TO MAKE THEIR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FLAW INTO A SAFETY RECALL AND EXPECTS TO JUST MAKE MONEY OFF MITUBISHI OWNERS COMING IN TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED.
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 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE CROSSMEMBER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
DURING MY LAST TWO VISIT WITH TECHNICIAN (LAST ONE WITH MITSUBISHI DEALER, AND ONE BEFORE WITH OTHER SERVICE PLACE), THE VEHICLE TECHNICIAN NOTICE EXCESSIVELY RUSTED CROSS-MEMBER. THE TECHNICIAN AT MITSUBISHI DEALER ALSO PUT THE NOTE IN "COMPUTERIZED VEHICLE REPORT". WHEN I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT HOW BAD IS THIS AND HOW TO FIX THIS, HE MENTIONED THAT OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER VEHICLES ARE AFFECTING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING VEHICLES YEAR BY YEAR, SO HOPE THEY WILL RECALL THIS MODEL TOO. AND FOR SAFETY, I NEED TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP EYE AND NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO ANY CHANGE TO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AS THIS MAY CRACK AND I AM END UP IN ACCIDENT. *TR*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V070100 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. RICARDO CABALLERO MITSUBISHI AUTO CORP (LOCATED AT 10, 4 CLL 5, COAMO, 00769, PUERTO RICO, +1 787-303-4457) CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 91 owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer are engine (11 reports), suspension (10 reports), power train (8 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.