Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems

Owners filed 16 complaints about the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with NHTSA between Sep 2005 and Nov 2017. The most-cited component is suspension (4).

Complaints
16
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension4
  2. Power train4
  3. Steering4
  4. Electrical system2
  5. Air bags2
  6. Structure2
  7. Exterior lighting1
  8. Visibility/wiper1
  9. Visibility1
  10. Engine and engine cooling1
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  12. Tires1
  13. Other / unknown2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20052
20064
20071
20081
20090
20100
20111
20121
20130
20140
20150
20164
20172

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

4 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V321000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INFLATOR AND 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2017Suspension, Air bagsODI 10948519

Power train

4 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING I HAD ALL 3 ACD LIGHTS COME ON. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATING AND A TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD MY ACD PUMP WAS BAD AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ONE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE CARS THAT STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED WITH THE NEWER MODELS. I WAS QUOTED 2400 DOLLARS JUST FOR THE PUMP, NOT INCLUDING LABOR, AND THAT DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2016Power train, Unknown or otherODI 10928414

Steering

4 reports2 crashes
“LOWER CONTROL ARM LOOSE / DISCONNECTED FROM SUBFRAME, CAUSING STABILITY AND CONTROL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN UNSAFE OPERATION AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME WHICH THE VEHICLE IA BEING OPERATED.THE SOCKET ON THE SUBFRAME HAS DEEP RUST AND AN IRREGULAR HOLE VISIBLE. BOB PENKHUS MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO PERFORM THE RECALL WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE OF CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME, SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 22, 2016Steering, SuspensionODI 10927500

Electrical system

2 reports
“WATER HAS MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE GROMMET IN THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL, DOWN THE HARNESS, AND RESTS IN THE CONNECTORS BEHIND THE KICK PANEL UNDER THE DASH. WIRES/CONNECTORS HAVE BECOME CORRODED CAUSING SEVERAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING: LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, AND NEITHER WILL THE ENGINE AFTER KEYS ARE REMOVED AND EVEN AFTER THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 11045268

Air bags

2 reports
“THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE WIPERS WON'T STOP RUNNING. THE HORN STARTS ON ITSELF. ALL IS RELATED TO WATER ENTERING IN THE INNER FENDER, SHORTING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINY OUTSIDE. THIS HAPPENS TO EVERY EVOLUTION OWNER THAT I KNOW. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A RISK WITH AIR BAGS NOT WORKING CAUSED BY THAT, BUT THAT HIGHLY CONCERNS ME. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY... THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2012Electrical system, Visibility, Air bagsODI 10457996

Structure

2 reports
“FOUND EXCESSIVE RUST CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO REAR UNI BODY FRAME SIDE MEMBERS. APPEARS TO HAVE RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SIMILAR TO THEIR CURRENT FRONT SUB FRAME RUST RECALL. AT THIS TIME NO ACCIDENTS/ DAMAGE CAUSED BUT LIKELY WILL RESULT IN UNI BODY WEAKENING AND POSSIBLE SUSPENSION/ STRUCTURAL FAILURE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2016StructureODI 10938875
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.