2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

< older2005
Complaints
116
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#144 complaints

Power Train:Clutch Assembly

Avg mileage:9,359 mi
#211 complaints

Manual Transmission

Avg mileage:17,087 mi
#38 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Avg mileage:13,012 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Power Train:Clutch Assembly
44
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
9,359
Manual Transmission
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
17,087
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
13,012
Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
16,743
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,101
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
81,375
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Bell Housing
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Interior Lighting
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Column
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Bumpers
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~194,674 vehicles.

16V458000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~194,674 affected

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, 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 the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

Other Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Years

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 116 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Power Train:Clutch Assembly with 44 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
Top reported problems: Power Train:Clutch Assembly (44 complaints, avg 9,359 mi); Manual Transmission (11 complaints, avg 17,087 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (8 complaints, avg 13,012 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 21,378 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution include 1 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 194,674 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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