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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution slipping problems

14 of the 229 owner complaints about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution describe transmission slipping, most of them for the 2003 model year.

owner complaints
14
worst model year
2003
typical mileage
11,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

Grinding brakes 2Whining noise 1

What owners say

Filed Nov 3, 2017 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · VA

Car has only been driven just under 6 months with no abuse and with just at 10,000 miles the clutch failed. The dealer and manufacturer claim wear item. If the car had 40,00 or more miles I might accept, but they built a can with an engine that produces over 300 ft.lbs. Of torque, and apparently installed a clutch and pressure plate that does not have adequate clamping and holding abilities for the engine in the car. The are claiming wear item and want approximately $2,000.00 for the repair of what I believe to be a defective or intentionally insufficient part to properly contain the output of the cars engine and are passing the cost on to the buyers. These are also not entry level cars and are advertised as high power, performance cars. Clutch began slipping while driving thereby creating an unsafe operating condition. An extended warranty was also purchased and the claim is being denied by both the manufacture, and the add on warranty company as wear items,

Filed Feb 19, 2006 · Transmission · MO

03 evo heard grinding noises in my tranny or transfer case area @ 15k miles.. Took to dealer and they told me they won't check it if its not broken..they did replace a drive shaft but noise was still there.. My clutch is now slipping @ 24k..

Filed Jun 10, 2005 · Transmission · MA

Clutch started slipping after 12,000 miles. Not covered under warranty.

Filed Jan 13, 2005 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · NC

1) I am in the military deployed to afghanistan... 1 month before I deployed my stock clutch was slipping. This is not covered by mitsubishi's warranty. I was reading on my forums and there were at least 2 to 300 people experiencing the same problem all around 5000 miles on the car regardless of how the car was driven. I purchased a new clutch, $1300 and had the dealership install it for $800 figuring that they would warranty there work. I deployed to afghanistan, came back and about 2 months of driving the car my car was making a hi squealing noise. The problem was diagnosed as the clutch. Although they did no other inspection. I ordered a new clutch had them install it... Same problem continued. So I paid another 700 for a new clutch for no reason. Then they rediagnosed the problem as the rear differential. They replaced that under warranty... Problem was fixed. I was babying the car for a week or so because of the clutch break in period is suggested 1000 miles. While doing 60 MPH on the highway the car noise came back just as bad as before... Called mitsubishi and they refused repair by order of the district rep. 2. The noise has progressively gotten worse and has caused my car to be sluggish now. I would like my drivetrain to have a thorough inspection and fixed where necessary. I would also like to be reimbursed for my clutch that I had to buy that wasn't faulty to begin with. I also think mitsubishi needs to adhere to a warranty on there drivetrain. Regardless if you install an aftermarket clutch in your car, the drivetrain should be covered. Who in there right mind would pay for the installation of a new stock clutch and fly wheel if its just going to go bad at the same time you need your oil change.

Filed Dec 19, 2004 · Transmission · 11,000 miles · CA

Mitsubishi evolution clutch failure, I bought a 2003 lancer evolution 8, I had it for less then 5000 miles before the clutch started to wear down, I brought it to the dealer for warranty work, they accepted the warranty work, adding that they should have charged me 1500$ for the repair because it was abuse, now the car is at 10,000 miles doing the same thing, I use this car to go to and from work only, since I have two cars, now they wont even take my calls, if I mention lancer evolution clutch to any mitsubishi warranty department, they cut me off in the middle of a sentence and say"the clutch wear is caused by abuse, sir there is no problem with the clutch it is your fault!" then proceed to hang up on me. Im tired of this, and im not going to pay up to 1900 for a problem they caused. My car is now in operable! 3 days after the clutch started slipping!

Filed Sep 13, 2004 · Transmission · TN

Clutch slipping at less than 10,000 miles. Car is not raced nor abused.

Filed Jul 27, 2004 · Transmission · 15,500 miles · MD

Just with talking to the dealership for my 2003 mitsubishi evolution they are telling me mistubishi is doing nothing about the clutch failure problem . They are stating that it's all of us drivers faults. And there appears to be lots of complaints.*ak clutch is slipping. No failure yet. Nothing has been done yet. Waiting to hear more.

Filed Jul 20, 2004 · Transmission · 2,770 miles · AZ

Clutch failure after 2778 miles of driving a 2003 mitsubishi lancer evolution viii. Purchased new vehicle (used broker jim estrada autobroker 602‑683‑2120) from mark mitsubishi with 1586 miles. After driving 1192 addtional miles the clutch started slipping. Returned car to mark mitsubishi to find that clutch problem is not covered by auto warranty. After researching the federal safety agency website I found 13 similar failures of clutch problems with same result with dealers. There are now 30 reported incidents. I tried to have problem repaired under warranty but was told it was my problem. While negotiating repair my daughter was told by salesperson he knew of clutch problems with this model car. I was also told by this same salesperson that they had problems. His reply when asked why buyer is not informed was that I should do my homework. I do not think a new car should have a problem at 2778 miles of driving. Mitsubishi had troubles with their truck clutches sending one of their excutives to jail in japan. I had to pay $889.89 to have clutch replaced.

Filed Jun 22, 2004 · Transmission · 12,195 miles · NC

On june 1st the clutch failed completely it was composed of the clutch slipping and then exploding. This car was not abused and from the 3rd day I bought the car the clutch was slipping. I tried to get the factory to do somthing about it then but had no luck. I was told I was going to have to pay for it out of pocket. I ended up paying for the clutch replacement out of pocket anyway now they are threatening to void my warranty because I didnt replace it with their stock replacement! After the clutch replacement the transfer case and transmission is giving me troubles after only 700 miles. The dealer that I had the clutch repair done then refered me to another dealer to have the car fixed. It has developed a high pitched whine that starts about 40mph it sounds like a wwii bomb shelter warning siren. This has been a miserable experience!

Filed Jun 20, 2004 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · CA

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.

Related recalls

Power train: manual transmissionReported September 19, 2013 · 10,474 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 13V446000 · Recall details

Questions about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution slipping

Which Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution years have transmission slipping problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2003 (13 complaints) and 2015 (1 complaints).

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