Model year guide

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 29 on record.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints59
Combined18–19 mpg
Typical price$19,772

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls 4

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys NHTSA Campaign #14V562000 · 12/09/2014

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 …

Fix: 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 may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-…

Power Train:manual Transmission NHTSA Campaign #13V446000 · 19/09/2013

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.

Fix: 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.

Fuel System, Other:delivery NHTSA Campaign #09V349000 · 08/09/2009

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER EVOLUTION, RALLIART, AND SPORTBACK RALLIART VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGED ENGINES. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FUEL RETURN PIPE IS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE, IN COMBINATION WITH FREQUENT VEHICLE OPERATION AT CERTAIN ENGINE REVOLUTIONS, MAY RESULT IN A RESONANCE THAT, IF CONTINUED OVER TIME, MAY CAUSE A STRESS CRACK TO DEVELOP AT THE FIXED PORTION OF THE FUEL PIPE.

Fix: THE FUEL RETURN PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW PART AND TWO ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENT BRACKETS WILL BE INSTALLED TO BETTER CONTROL FUEL PIPE VIBRATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive NHTSA Campaign #09V435000 · 05/11/2009

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…

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 5 Oct 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MPG & running costs

Combined18–19 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway22 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution worth?

Low
$15,000
Typical price
$19,772
High
$24,000

From 29 comparable 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$22,250
Depreciation (5 yrs)$9,550
Total$31,800
Per mile$0.42

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($19,772) with the same model 5 model-years older ($10,230), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution trims & engines on record

Trims
GSR · MR
Engines
2.0L

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vehicles on record

Other Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution model years

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?

Across all 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, electronic stability control (esc), structure.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution get?

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has U.S. EPA estimates of 18–19 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

How much is a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution worth?

Comparable 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution listings run roughly $15,000–$24,000, typically around $19,772 (from 29 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.