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Research · Compact Cars

2008 Mitsubishi LancerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 91 owner complaints for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. Most complaints involve suspension (23) and engine (13). The EPA rates it 24 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
24mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest May 2020
Owner complaints
91
Top: suspension
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Structure: frame and members

Free remedy

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. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

StructureReported May 18, 2020NHTSA 20V279000

Visibility: sun

Free remedy

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.

VisibilityReported Jan 26, 2018NHTSA 18V071000

Engine and engine cooling: belts and associated pulleys

Free remedy

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 pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.

Engine and engine coolingReported Sep 12, 2014NHTSA 14V562000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

91 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2007 – Aug 2024
  1. Suspension23
  2. Engine13
  3. Steering12
  4. Power train11
  5. Structure10
  6. Electrical system7
  7. Air bags7
  8. Tires6
  9. Engine and engine cooling4

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

By model year

Complaints for each Lancer model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2002155
2003311
200483
200524
200637
20072
200891
2009121
201085
201149
201223
20135
201423
201526
201630
20176
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Suspension

23 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2022SuspensionCrash reportedODI 11489715

Engine

13 reports
“TUESDAY, 11/27/18, MORNING MY CAR (100,00 TOTAL MILES DRIVEN) STARTED TO MAKE A PERIODIC SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO WORK. I THEN TOOK IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT SAME MORNING TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM MY DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/RECALLS/MITSUBISHI-LANCER-2008/. ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE, MY CAR HAS A RECALL FOR THE DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS. SO I WENT ON MITSUBISHI'S RECALL WEBSITE TO PUT IN MY VID NUMBER, BUT IT WAS SHOWING THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. SO I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPAIR MY CAR ACCORDING TO THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS SHOWN ON THE WEBSITE THAT HE REFERRED ME TO, WHICH INVOLVES REPLACING THE DRIVE BELT, PULLEYS, AND DRIVE BELT TENSIONER. IT SEEMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NEXT DAY (11/28) ON MY BACK HOME FROM WORK, I STARTED HEARING ANOTHER NOISE AFTER COMING OFF THE FREEWAY. I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVE BELT HAD BEEN TORN. PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED PICTURE. SO I CONTACTED THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO LOOK INTO IT AGAIN. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVE BELT AGAIN, BUT RECOMMENDED THAT I TRY TO CONTACT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2018EngineODI 11155343

Steering

12 reports
“I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. PARKED AND FOUND ROTTEN PARTS ON TIRE. MECHANIC SAID IT CANNOT BE FIXED. EVERYTHING ROTTED. NEEDS WHOLE NEW FRAME. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.THANK GOD I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. NOW I HAVE NOTHING BUT AN EXISTING CAR LOAN FOR IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2020Steering, Suspension, WheelsODI 11385384
All 2008 Lancer problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 6, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Lancer
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
222924$2,700370
Lancer
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,700370
  • Lancer
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    22 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer as of Nov 6, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 6, 2026Vehicle 2401Vehicle 2250
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2008 Lancer questions

How many recalls does the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 6, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?

Owners filed 91 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are suspension (23), engine (13), steering (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer at 24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 6, 2026