"How reliable is the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?"

"Based on 116 NHTSA complaints, the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has a median complaint mileage of 13506 miles. The most common issue is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY."

"What are common problems with the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, accounting for a significant portion of the 116 total complaints filed."

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 116 complaints

116

Total Complaints

13,506mi

Median Mileage

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

4,800 25th Percentile

13,506 Median Mileage

32,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STRUCTURE:BODY

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:BELL HOUSING

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THERE ARE PITTED RUST SPOTS ON THE REAR DRIVERSIDE QUARTER PANEL. WHERE THE DOOR MEETS THE PANEL. ALSO THERE ARE SURFACE RUST ON THE REAR OF MY BUMPER OF MY CAR.*AK"

"THE CLUTCH WORE OUT PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28