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Vehicle safety record

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (2) and the driver assistance (1). It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in September 2013 for the manual transmission. For comparison, the 2011 has 45 and the 2013 has 4.

NHTSA data checked

AFar fewer problems than a typical Lancer Evolution year, for its age

#276 most complained-about 2012 vehicle

Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Most common 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems

Share of all 3 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls 1

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Power train: manual transmission

13V44600010,474 vehicles affected

The problem
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.
The risk
Failure of the clutch master cylinder reduces the ability to shift the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

What owners say

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3 complaints about the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.

Seats & seat belts

The driver's seat side leg bolster broke. Upon removing the seat from the vehicle it was found that metal had broken which allowed the bolster to break. Seems dangerous to me considering the cars capabilities and that it is something that can affect the driver in a turn.

Filed Incident SeatsNHTSA 10854498
Transmission & drivetrainDriver assistance

2012 Evo x gsr - from jba mitsubishi (glen burnie, md). At 31,651 miles - I was in a fast-food drive thru line ordering breakfast. That is, 0mph. All of a sudden, I hear a chime and see my instrument panel flash. My driving-mode/status light (which shows tarmac/snow/gravel) had turned off. Another light illuminated, saying '4wd service required'. My evo is 100% bone stock, no mods/tune. I call around and do some research. I check my fluids, tires (all 4, brand new, properly balanced), etc. A little...

Read the full complaint

while later, I discover that it is my ayc pump. This is a known issue with evo's and needs to be recalled. Luckily, mine went out just before warranty. Otherwise, it'd cost between $2500-$3k to fix on my own dime. I live in md - we get snow every single year. Apparently, the salt and weather changes can cause corrosion and damage to the pump. Mitsubishi offers a replacement (with 1yr, 12k mile warranty). But I've seen folks in canada who burn thru 3-4 pumps a year. Meaning just because of this 1 part, an evo is a terrible car to have in cold-weather states. Mitsubishi needs to recall this part - or offer to repair free whenever the pump goes out. Even with proper preventative maintenance - I do not want to pay $2500+ every time the pump goes out. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 10616432
Transmission & drivetrain

The car is very difficult to shift. From stop to about 40 mph, the shifting feels like doesn't want to go into gear. I was told this is normal. The car seems to shift a lot better at higher rpms; probably due to less of a synchronization problem. Miss shifts cause delay in acceleration. *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10550510

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
201526250Transmission & drivetrainD
201422243Transmission & drivetrainD
20134101Transmission & drivetrainA
20123100Transmission & drivetrainA
201145310Transmission & drivetrainD
201079552Engine & coolingF
20092500Engine & coolingB
200859400Transmission & drivetrainF
All Lancer Evolution years

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Does the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: manual transmission (September 2013). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (2), driver assistance (1), seats & seat belts (1).

How many complaints has the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution had?

3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 1, 2013 and the latest on April 8, 2016. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 92 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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