2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

126

Owner Complaints

12 Crashes 2 Fires

5

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

17

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER

The 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER has received a total of 126 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 8 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM. 17 technical service bulletins have been issued by Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspension (22 complaints), Engine (13 complaints), and Steering (12 complaints).

Recalls for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER

NHTSA has recorded 8 recalls for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER, potentially affecting up to 856,428 vehicles.

Recall 20V279000 — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

| 141,200 vehicles affected

Defect: 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....

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 20V279000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

| 141,200 vehicles affected

Defect: 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....

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 20V279000 — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

| 141,200 vehicles affected

Defect: 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....

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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...

View full details →

Recall 20V279000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

| 141,200 vehicles affected

Defect: 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....

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 18V071000 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

| 56,641 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 14V562000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

| 165,923 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 09V435000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

| 29,353 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: THIS COATING OVER TIME MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE SENSOR. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH OF THE TYPE THAT WOULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS THIS TYPE OF SHORT-CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE A DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WHICH COULD RESULT IN DRIVER OR PASSENGER INJURY.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 09V077000 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

| 39,711 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: THIS MAY TEMPORARILY INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

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Owner Complaints for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER

126 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11611449 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 98,000 miles
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.
#11611449 | POWER TRAIN | | 98,000 miles
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.
#11560732 | STRUCTURE:BODY | | N/A miles
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.
#11520768 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
The dealership that is repairing the drive belt recall, is attempting to charge me for the replacement of a damaged pulley.
#11489715 | SUSPENSION | | 116,000 miles Crash 1 Injury
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.

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Safety Rating for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. has issued 17 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

TIN-20-SR-003REV — STRUCTURE

This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealerships to notify of a revised Safety Recall Bulletin SR-20-003REV_2 update regarding warranty information and entry of claims.

TIN-20-SR-003REV — SUSPENSION

This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealerships to notify of a revised Safety Recall Bulletin SR-20-003REV_2 update regarding warranty information and entry of claims.

ATIN-20-SR-003-C — STRUCTURE

This Advanced Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers as an update to ATIN-20-SR-003B informing that due to a parts availability delay of the Crossmember, customer vehicles requiring a replacement of the crossmember are unable to be completed at this time. Additionally, this notice informed dealers that an Interim Owner...

ATIN-20-SR-003-B — ENGINE

This Advanced Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing them of the upcoming recall being released for the inside and outside surfaces of the front cross members used on certain vehicles, if exposed long term to snow melt water and anti-freezing agents, may corrode due to insufficient performance of...

TSB-18-34-001 — EQUIPMENT

This is a Technical Service Bulletin that was sent to dealers. The bulletin updates the Rear Suspension section of the affected Service Manuals to correct the tightening torque for the Fastener Tightening Specifications Table.

SRSSensorInvesti — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a letter sent to dealers, to inform them that the temporary investigation of Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Front Impact Sensors investigation has concluded.

TSB-14-15-001 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

MITSUBISHI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. DUE TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS, FRONT EXHAUST PIPE SEAL RING MAY CORRODE, IN COLD WEATHER STATES, TO CLEAR ICE AND SNOW FROM ROADWAYS. *PE

TSB-13-35-005 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

MITSUBISHI: INFORMATION CONCERNING AN UPDATE OF THE SERVICE MANUAL INVOLVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE ABS AND ASC HYDRAULIC UNIT. ALSO INCUDED LANCER 2008-2014, LANCER SPORTBACK 2009-2014, OUTLANDER, AND SPORT/RVR 2011-2014. *JS UPDATED 12/16/13. *PE

TT-C1219-C2205 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MITSUBISHI: IF THE CLOCKSPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE SUBJECT DTCS AND THE DTCS RESET, NOTE THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SAS) IS NOT PART OF THE CLOCKSPRING. *PE

TT-C1219-C2205 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

MITSUBISHI: IF THE CLOCKSPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE SUBJECT DTCS AND THE DTCS RESET, NOTE THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SAS) IS NOT PART OF THE CLOCKSPRING. *PE

Showing 10 of 17 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the MITSUBISHI LANCER

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Other MITSUBISHI Models

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