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KLUNK

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer evolution

The Verdict

92 Smooth Ride

The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer evolution has 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (13 complaints) and transmission (10 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 92/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Mitsubishi Lancer evolution, consider the 2004 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2004 has 94% fewer complaints

View the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer evolution dashboard →

92

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200420000
200571314
20066231310
20081311539
200910010
201014972722
201113151412
201210002
201310012
201442547
2015401156

By Category

Engine
13
Transmission
10
Body
6
Electrical
3
Brakes
2

By Severity

1
15
2
19

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

REAR SUBFRAME WHERE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND SUSPENSION BOLTS ONTO IS RUSTED, JUST LIKE THE FRONT SUBFRAME . MANY OWNERS 2003-2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. MITSUBISHI RECENTLY ISSUED A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME DUE TO RUST. THE REAR SUBFRAME IS ALSO A CONCERN AND IS WORST THAN THE FRONT.

94mo ago
Body 2

THE REAR SUBFRAME OF MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS SIGNIFICANT CORROSION PERFORATION WHERE THE REAR AXLE AND SUSPENSION MOUNTS TO THE BODY. THE RUST IS SO BAD, THAT I'M WORRIED IF I HIT A POTHOLE THE ENTIRE REAR SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY / CONTROL ARMS COULD DETACH, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY WELL MAINTAINED, HAS ALWAYS BEEN WASHED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS (UNDERCARRIAGE), AND THE BODY DOES NOT SHOW ANY RUST. I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY LOSS OF CONTROL, ETC ... JUST CONCERNED THIS COULD HAPPEN. MY VEHICLE HAD THE FRONT SUBFRAME REPLACED LAST YEAR (RECALL) DUE TO RUST PERFORATION AND LACK OF CORROSION PROTECTION FROM THE FACTORY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS TO DETACH RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. I SEE THE SAME POTENTIAL FOR THE REAR. ALSO PLEASE NOTE, THE PHOTOS I'M ATTACHING ARE NOT FROM MY VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE AREAS OF CONCERN ON MY VEHICLE (AND ARE FROM THE EXACT MAKE / MODEL VEHICLE). I'D BE HAPPY TO ATTACH SIMILAR PHOTOS FROM MY VEHICLE IF NEEDED, BUT AGAIN, THEY SHOW THE SAME AMOUNT OF RUST IN THE EXACT SAME AREAS.

101mo ago
Body 2

MY ACTIVE CENTRAL DIFFERENTIAL PUMP FAILED. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO ALL OF THE FLUID WAS GONE SO I REFILLED IT. LAST WEEK IT WAS EMPTY AGAIN SO I FILLED IT AND THE FLUID JUST DUMPED OUT ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 82000 MILES ON IT.

102mo ago
Body 2

I HAVE A RECALL ON MY 2006 MITSUBISHI FOR CORROSION ON SUBFRAME, I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND ORDERED THE CROSS MEMBER, SO WE MADE AN APPOINT TO TAKE CAR INTO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, LEFT THE CAR WITH THE DEALER FOR THE DAY, LATER THAT DAY I GOTTEN A CALL STATING THEY CANNOT GET THE BOLTS LOOSE DUE TO CORROSION AND I HAVE TO PAY TO REMOVE IT, I FIND IT STRANGE THAT THERES A RECALL ON A PART DUE TO CORROSION AND NOW THE BOLT IS SEIZED DUE TO THE SAME CORROSION, AND I HAVE TO PAY 392.00 TO REMOVE CROSS MEMBER BOLT SO THEY CAN CHANGE A PART THAT THEY RECALLED, I TAUGHT THAT A BIG COMPANY LIKE THIS WOULD RECALL A PART AND THEN TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE, AND NOT CHARGE THE CUSTOMER FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE WORST RECALL I EVER HEARD OF.

118mo ago
Transmission 2

I WAS HEADING TO A CLASS WHEN I NOTICED MY CLUTCH PEDAL WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CLUTCH WAS STILL DISENGAGING/ENGAGING WHEN I SHIFTED SO I MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING IT BUT I DECIDED TO TRY AND SEE IF IT WAS STILL DOING IT, SO I TRIED TO BACK OUT OF A SPOT BUT IT WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO GEAR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. TURNED OUT MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FAULTY AND I LEARNED THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS AND FRIENDS THAT IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE LANCER EVOLUTION. I WAS SURPRISED AT THAT AND WONDERED WHY MITSUBISHI WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR FAULTY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS. IT DAWNED ON ME THAT MOST PEOPLE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR ARE THE "DO IT YOURSELF" KIND OF PERSON AND MORE THAN LIKELY WERE FIXED BY THE OWNERS OF THE CARS, THEREFOR NEVER REPORTED THROUGH MECHANICS OR DEALERSHIPS. AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, THE THROW OUT BEARING RETAINING CLIP CAME LOOSE AND DAMAGED THE PRESSURE PLATE. SO NOW IT IS BEING REPLACED, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS ALL CAUSED BY THE MASTER CYLINDER. HAD IT WORKED PROPERLY, I NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS AND SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY. WHAT I AM HOPING IS THAT MORE OWNERS COME FORWARD WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND REPORT THEM, AND THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHILE THEY'RE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OR STUCK IN TRAFFIC. THEY COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE HYDRAULIC POWER TO THE CLUTCH SYSTEM AND BRAKES, RESULTING IN A HAZARDOUS SITUATION THAT COULD DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH.

123mo ago
Engine 2

THERE IS AN ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL PUMP FAILURE THAT IS BECOMING COMMON IN ALL LANCER EVOLUTIONS OF THIS YEAR. MINE WENT OUT LAST YEAR AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO DRIVE WITH IT FOR A YEAR NOW NOT KNOWING WHETHER THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CORRODING AT AN ACCELERATED RATE OF NOT. I DID THIS BECAUSE AFTER I HAD MY VEHICLE ASSESSED THEY TOLD IT WOULD BE $2500 TO REPLACE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN BE DANGEROUS THEREFORE CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PAY THIS ABSURD AMOUNT EVEN WITH KNOWING THAT ALMOST 60% OF EVO DRIVERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

144mo ago
Body 1

SPRING SEAT BROKE AT WELD JOINT TO SHOCK TUBE. SPRING TRANSLATED IN THE Z DIRECTION UNTIL IT WAS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE TIRE. UPON BREAKAGE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE SPRING RUBBING AGAINST TIRE. *TR

145mo ago
Engine 2

THIS IS A VERY WELL DOCUMENTED AND KNOWN ISSUE AMONGST EVOLUTION GEN 9 OWNERS. THE OEM TIMING BELT BRACKET TENSIONER WAS MADE INCORRECT AND CAUSES THE TIMING BELT TO RUB AGAINST METAL. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A REPLACEMENT BRACKET MADE THAT CORRECTS THE ISSUE BUT I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO OWN THIS ONE AND MAKE IT RIGHT, IT'S A FAULTY PART, INITIATE THE RECALL. *TR

149mo ago
Transmission 2

MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION 9 RS MODEL ACD PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TR

150mo ago
Engine 1

MY ACD HYDRAULIC PUMP HAS FAILED. RPM'S SURGE WHEN ACCELERATING AND WHEN AT IDLE, I FEEL LIKE IT IS PUTTING MY ENGINE UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE. FROM MY RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MITSUBISHI LANCE EVOLUTIONS. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, AND WHAT THEY ARE CHARGING TO GET A NEW ONE WHICH YOU CAN ONLY GET FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! *TR

151mo ago
Electrical 1

COMPLAINT *10261125*-THIS COMPLAINT IS 100% ACCURATE, MITSUBISHI HAS RECALLED MANY OUTLANDER SUVS ON THIS SAME ISSUE, PLEASE INVESTIGATE, HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE, TURN SIGNALS, HIGH BEAM, LOW BEAM, HORN, FOG LIGHTS, ENGINE, EVERYTHING WORKS AT RANDOM AND CANNOT BE STOPPED, MY ENGINE WILL NOT START, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAN HAVE DEVASTATING RESULTS, "COMPLAINT NUMBER: 10261125 2006 THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTIONS MADE FROM 2003-2006. I HAVE HAD 2 OF THESE CARS AND SAME PROBLEM... ALMOST STARTED A FIRE IN MY CAR.. . WHERE THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS GOES THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER, THERE'S A RUBBER GROMMET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BLOCK WATER. WELL IN MY 2 CARS AND ABOUT 100 OTHERS ON THE AUTO FORUM I FREQUENT,(WWW.EVOLUTIONM.NET) THE RUBBER GROMMET FAILS TO DO ITS JOB OF BLOCKING WEATHER AND WATER IS LEAKING THROUGH GOING DOWN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND INTO THE WIRING CONNECTORS. FROM THERE THE AVERAGE OWNER LIKE ME IS GETTING THERE HORN, LIGHTS WIPERS SRS LIGHT ETC. TURNING ON/OFF RAPIDLY WHILE DRIVING. SOME HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, WELL ALONG WITH THAT YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. PLEASE DO WHAT EVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE THIS A RECALL. AS IT I AM SURE HAS AND WILL CAUSE MANY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. PLEASE KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE. *TR ". *TR

189mo ago
Engine 2

MY 2006 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION 9 STARTED TO MAKE ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISES AUDIBLE WITHIN THE CAB. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND IS MORE THAN WELL KEPT... THE NOISE COMES FROM WITHIN THE TIMING BELT COVER AND SOUNDS MUCH LIKE A WASHING MACHINE. THIS NOISE IS ALSO WELL DOCUMENTED AMONG EVO 9 OWNERS. HERE IS A LINK TO THE THREAD. HTTP://FORUMS.EVOLUTIONM.NET/EVO-ENGINE-TURBO-DRIVETRAIN/262773-IX-ENGINE-IDLE-NOISE-BELT-VIDEO.HTML IT APPEARS THAT THE TIMING WHEEL RUBS ON THE TIMING BELT AND CAUSES THIS NOISE. THE CURRENT FIX IS TO REPLACE YOUR TIMING BELT, CRANKSHAFT BLADE(TIMING WHEEL), AND TIMING BELT TENSIONER REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR TIMING BELT SERVICE INTERVALS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER. IF THE TIMING BELT WERE TO FAIL FROM HEAT GENERATED DUE TO FRICTION (RUBBING) THE ENGINE WOULD BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR (INTERFERENCE ENGINE) NOT TO MENTION THE VEHICLE WOULD BE STRANDED... AND THE FAILURE MODE HAS A VERY HIGH CHANGE OF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A SIMPLE FMEA WOULD SHOW THIS TO BE A GLARING ISSUE. TO SPEAK TO HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS...THE SOUND IS PRESENT ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS IDLING, HOWEVER BELT FAILURE FROM THIS ISSUE COULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED DURING ANY DRIVING CONDITIONS/MANEUVERS. THE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP IS ANYTHING BUT HELPFUL, AND MITSUBISHI HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING WITH SOLUTIONS OR FIXES. *TR

189mo ago
Transmission 1

I FIRST NOTICED THAT MY 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION MR STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING/SCRAPPING NOISE THAT SEEMED TO BE GENERATING FROM THE TIMING BELT AREA. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT SEEMED TO BE A NOISE THAT WAS PRESENT AT IDLE AND UPON COLD START UPS. I STARTED TO RESEARCH THIS ON VARIOUS FORUMS AND INTERNET, ONLY TO FIND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A CLEAR SOLUTION. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW DEALERSHIPS WHO HAVE SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED THIS ISSUE BUT EACH FIX SEEMED TO VARY WITHIN THE TIMING BELT AREA. THE TIMING BELT, SENSOR BLADE, TENSIONER, TENSIONER PULLEYS, ETC. HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP THAT "FIXED" MY TIMING BELT AREA GRINDING NOISE SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE THE TIMING BELT ONLY, WHICH I DID. ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESURFACE ABOUT 2500 MILES LATER. I AM UNWILLING TO KEEP PUTTING TIMING BELTS IN MY CAR TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. IT SCARES ME THAT THE DEALER KEEPS TRYING TO GO DOWN THIS SAME ROAD WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION. THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND ABOUT 90% OF THE TIMES MY KIDS ARE IN THIS CAR WITH ME. IT WOULD BE TERRIBLE IF MY ENGINE BRAKES DOWN ON ME WHILE DRIVING AROUND WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I URGE MITSUBISHI TO STRONGLY CONSIDER A RECALL FOR THIS. WITH SUCH AN AMAZING CAR I WOULD HOPE MITSUBISHI WOULD STANDBY IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING! *TR

190mo ago
Engine 1

IN AUGUST I NOTICED A WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT AREA OF MY CAR. THE CAR WAS PERFECTLY FINE AND DRIVEN NORMALLY. I STARTED THE CAR AND THE NOISE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A WASHING MACHINE AND IS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED UP AND IS COLD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE NOISE DISAPPEARS. I AM WORRIED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG IN THAT AREA. I DO NOT WANT MY ENGINE TO BREAK. *TR

201mo ago
Engine 2

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT AREA. SOUNDS LIKE A FAULTY PULLEY OR THE BELT RUBBING ON SOMETHING. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY. BEFORE I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP I TOLD THEM I STILL HEAR THE SAME SOUND JUST QUIETER. THEY TOLD ME IF IT GETS LOUDER TO COME BACK. THAT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT HAS GOTTEN LOUDER SINCE. MY CONCERN IS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SEVERE ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED AT SPEED. *TR

201mo ago
Engine 2

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY ENGINE WHEN MY CAR WAS IDLING. AFTER THE CAR WARMED UP (5-10 MIN), THE SOUND WOULD GO AWAY. THE SOUND APPEARED TO BE BELT RELATED SO I CHECKED THE SERPENTINE (ACCESSORY) BELT AND NOTICED SIGNS OF WEAR AND TEAR ON THE BELT AND THE IDLER PULLEY . I CHANGED THE BELT OUT (WAS CLOSE TO RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT DATE ANYWAY) BUT THE SOUND IS STILL THERE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON WITH 2006 EVOLUTION OWNERS AND THERE IS NO DEFINITE FIX FROM THE DEALER. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE WEAR AND TEAR CREATED BY THE BELT/PULLEY (OR WHATEVER THE CULPRIT MAY BE) COULD EASILY LEAD TO A FAILURE IN ONE OF THE ACCESSORY SYSTEMS (ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, POWER STEERING) AND COULD BE DANGEROUS TO MY CAR OR EVEN WORSE TO ME. *TR

201mo ago
Engine 1

BAD BEARING NOISE COMING FROM TIMING BELT AREA. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING BELT IDLER PULLEY. I HAVE HAD IT REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND THE EXACT SAME NOISE CAME BACK WITHIN 10K MILES. THIS NOISE APPEARED WITH 31K MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

202mo ago
Engine 2

A STRANGE "RUBBING, GRINDING" NOISE COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT AREA. *TR

202mo ago
Engine 1

CAR NEEDS TO BE SITTING AT AN IDLE SPEED, AND FIRST STARTED BECOMING AUDIBLE A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT WAS INTERMITTENT. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX AND BLAMED IT ON THE VALVES NEEDING ADJUSTMENT AND MY SERPENTINE BELT. THE VALVES ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR ARE HYDRAULIC AND DO NOT NEED SERVICING AND WHEN I REMOVED MY OWN SERPENTINE BELT, THE NOISE WAS STILL AUDIBLE! IT IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT AREA AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS ALMOST HITTING OR SCRAPING SOMETHING! ITS A SERIOUS CONCERN AS I DON'T NEED A TIMING BELT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING OUT ON THE ROAD, DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN ONE/SOME OF THE TIMING BELT COMPONENTS!! THE SCRAPING NOISE AT IDLE IS ALMOST DAILY WHEN HOT OR COLD, IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE. I'VE ALSO TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER DEALER RECENTLY AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THERE IS NO FIX AND ITS QUITE COMMON FOR MY VEHICLE! *TR

203mo ago
Engine 2

I FIRST NOTICED THAT MY 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION RS STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING/SCRAPPING NOISE THAT SEEMED TO BE GENERATING FROM THE TIMING BELT AREA WHEN MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT SEEMED TO BE A NOISE THAT WAS PRESENT AT IDLE AND UPON COLD START UPS AND NOW OCCASIONALLY I HEAR IT EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP. I STARTED TO RESEARCH THIS ON VARIOUS FORUMS AND INTERNET, ONLY TO FIND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A CLEAR SOLUTION. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW DEALERSHIPS WHO HAVE SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED THIS ISSUE BUT EACH FIX SEEMED TO VARY WITHIN THE TIMING BELT AREA. THE TIMING BELT, SENSOR BLADE, TENSIONER, TENSIONER PULLEYS, ETC. HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE. THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND ABOUT 90% OF THE TIMES MY KIDS ARE IN THIS CAR WITH ME. IT WOULD BE TERRIBLE IF MY ENGINE BREAKS DOWN ON ME WHILE DRIVING AROUND WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I URGE MITSUBISHI TO STRONGLY CONSIDER A RECALL FOR THIS. WITH SUCH AN AMAZING CAR I WOULD HOPE MITSUBISHI WOULD STANDBY IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING!*TR

203mo ago

34 total

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