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2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Drive belt recall repair parts unavailable.” Mitsubishi publishes short, conservative intervals: oil every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe, and — unlike many rivals — an explicit CVT fluid replacement schedule rather than a 'lifetime fill' claim. Read the severe-service column honestly: stop-and-go city trips, short hops, and hot climates all qualify, and they describe how most Mirages actually live. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty stays intact only with documented on-schedule service.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer.

Reported to NHTSA

Drive belt recall repair parts unavailable

ENGINE

12 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2023-05

“I RECEIVED 3 LETTERS IN THE MAIL REGARDING A IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING MY DRIVE BELT SYSTEM I CALLED THE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER SHIP AS WELL AS THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10712865
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10668348
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11155343

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering pull to one side after alignment

STEERING

8 NHTSA complaints · 2008-02 → 2008-08

“I HAVE HAD AN 08 MITSUBISHI LANCER GTS FOR A YEAR NOW AND HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PULLING LEFT SINCE THE VERY FIRST WEEK I OWNED IT. I'VE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED 5 TIMES NOW AND NO SUCCESS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10236454
“2008 LANCER PULLS TO THE LEFT. A BIT MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. AGGRESSIVE PULL TO THE LEFT. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THEY DID NOTHING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10229207
“THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT VERY STRONGLY, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP 3-4 TIMES TO HAVE THEM TRY AND FIX IT WITH NO AVAIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10228820

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal loss of stopping power and ABS light

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

8 NHTSA complaints · 2008-07 → 2022-01

“MY SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSE UNCONTROLLABLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO THE ABS LIGHT LIT UP. UNFORTUNATELY HE COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND HE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10232892
“BRAKES ON VEHICLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STARTED TO MAKE AN AIR SUCKING SOUND TOOK A COUPLE MINUTES TO PUMP THE BRAKES BACK UP BEFORE COULD START DRIVING AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11165560
“THE VERY FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES UPON STARTING EXHIBITS INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING PARKING LOT MANEUVERS. SUBSEQUENT APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKE REVEAL FULL PEDAL FORCE AND NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 09V077000 BUT IS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10416357

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT overheating and gear engagement failure

POWER TRAIN

4 NHTSA complaints · 2007-10 → 2020-11

“I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING THE LIGHT STATING SLOW DOWN APPEARS ON DASHBOARD I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TURN OFF ENGINE AND WAIT BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MINS BEFORE IM ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11376734
“HAVE DONE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE ASK REQUESTED IN MANUAL, HOWEVER IF ITS A HOT DAY AND YOU DO 65 THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO GRIND, THEN IT SLOW YOU DOWN. IT ACTUALLY TELLS YOU TO SLOW DOWN, WE USUALLY HAVE TO STOP FOR 5 MINUTES BEFORE WE CAN GET GOING AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10971880
“I OWN A 2008 LANCER WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WON'T GO INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR AND DEALER WONT FIX IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10247509

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front crossmember and subframe corrosion

SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE

20 NHTSA complaints · 2016-10 → 2022-10

“THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH, WHEN THE CROSS MEMBER SNAPPED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND JUMPED THE CURB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11398893
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CROSS MEMBER AND K FRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10919855
“I THEN PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED TO DRIVE ROUGHLY 5-10MPH, WHEN MORE CLUNKS HAPPENED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT ALL OVER AND I LOST CONTROL AND WAS FORCED TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11083708

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment or inadvertent deployment

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2009-02 → 2014-01

“INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND HIT SOMEONE BROAD SIDE WITH THE LEFT SIDE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10312768
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10259189
“I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO SNOW AND SLUSH OFF A TRACTOR TRAILER HITTING THE BACK END OF MY CAR. THE TRACTOR TRAILER WAS GOING ABOUT 80MPH PAST ME AS I WAS GOING ONLY 60MPH, DUE TO MY CAR BEING FRONT WHEEL DRIVE IT CAUSED ME TO SPIN OUT AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10561626

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe. Mirage's 1.2L three-cylinder holds barely over 3 quarts — small sumps punish stretched intervals. 0W-20 on most recent models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

CVT Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Mitsubishi schedules CVT fluid replacement — commonly every 60,000 miles normal / 30,000 severe (check your year's table). Use only the specified CVT fluid (J4/CVTF-J4 family); generic ATF destroys the belt-and-pulley unit.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate with every oil change. Light Mirages are easy on tires but the economy-focused OEM rubber wears fast when neglected.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors/drums, and lines at each service — Mirage G4 retains rear drums, which need periodic adjustment checks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 2-3 years per the schedule. Cheap job, big ABS-unit insurance.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Iridium plugs commonly every 60,000 miles on the Mirage's 3A92 and Lancer's 4B11 — verify your year's table, as some engines list up to 105,000.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Mitsubishi's schedule replaces the engine air filter every 15,000 miles — shorter than most brands, and a 5-minute DIY on the Mirage.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Drive Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on cracking. The Mirage's single serpentine belt also drives the A/C — a failure strands the car's accessories at once.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace every 15,000 miles, behind the glovebox. Often skipped at quick-lube visits — worth checking if airflow feels weak.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement

Every 60,000 mi

First change around 60,000 miles, then roughly every 30,000-45,000 per the schedule. Mitsubishi long-life coolant or equivalent OAT for your year.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Small-battery economy cars have little reserve — the first cold snap finds a weak one.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

60 crashes 1990–2024

How the 60 occupant deaths break down

41

driver deaths

19

passenger deaths

60

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

8

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer reflects Mitsubishi's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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