Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: 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.
Risk: Failure of the clutch master cylinder reduces the ability to shift the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Mitsubishi's campaign number for this recall is SR-13-009.
Campaign 13V446000
Rated configuration: 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4 DR AWD
The parts named most often across 3 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT SIDE LEG BOLSTER BROKE. UPON REMOVING THE SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND THAT METAL HAD BROKEN WHICH ALLOWED THE BOLSTER TO BREAK. SEEMS DANGEROUS TO ME CONSIDERING THE CARS CAPABILITIES AND THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN AFFECT THE DRIVER IN A TURN.
2012 EVO X GSR - FROM JBA MITSUBISHI (GLEN BURNIE, MD). AT 31,651 MILES - I WAS IN A FAST-FOOD DRIVE THRU LINE ORDERING BREAKFAST. THAT IS, 0MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEAR A CHIME AND SEE MY INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASH. MY DRIVING-MODE/STATUS LIGHT (WHICH SHOWS TARMAC/SNOW/GRAVEL) HAD TURNED OFF. ANOTHER LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SAYING '4WD SERVICE REQUIRED'. MY EVO IS 100% BONE STOCK, NO MODS/TUNE. I CALL AROUND AND DO SOME RESEARCH. I CHECK MY FLUIDS, TIRES (ALL 4, BRAND NEW, PROPERLY BALANCED), ETC. A LITTLE WHILE LATER, I DISCOVER THAT IT IS MY AYC PUMP. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH EVO'S AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. LUCKILY, MINE WENT OUT JUST BEFORE WARRANTY. OTHERWISE, IT'D COST BETWEEN $2500-$3K TO FIX ON MY OWN DIME. I LIVE IN MD - WE GET SNOW EVERY SINGLE YEAR. APPARENTLY, THE SALT AND WEATHER CHANGES CAN CAUSE CORROSION AND DAMAGE TO THE PUMP. MITSUBISHI OFFERS A REPLACEMENT (WITH 1YR, 12K MILE WARRANTY). BUT I'VE SEEN FOLKS IN CANADA WHO BURN THRU 3-4 PUMPS A YEAR. MEANING JUST BECAUSE OF THIS 1 PART, AN EVO IS A TERRIBLE CAR TO HAVE IN COLD-WEATHER STATES. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART - OR OFFER TO REPAIR FREE WHENEVER THE PUMP GOES OUT. EVEN WITH PROPER PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE - I DO NOT WANT TO PAY $2500+ EVERY TIME THE PUMP GOES OUT. *TR
THE CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. FROM STOP TO ABOUT 40 MPH, THE SHIFTING FEELS LIKE DOESN'T WANT TO GO INTO GEAR. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. THE CAR SEEMS TO SHIFT A LOT BETTER AT HIGHER RPMS; PROBABLY DUE TO LESS OF A SYNCHRONIZATION PROBLEM. MISS SHIFTS CAUSE DELAY IN ACCELERATION. *TR
Over 5 years this costs $8,750 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.