2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 24 owner complaints on record; most reports concern engine and engine cooling; the 2005 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2016
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2018
“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”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2014
“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”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2014
Show 6 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2014
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2013
“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”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 2009
“1. Driving 2. Irritating ticking from passenger side of engine bay. Seems to cause wear and tear on belts on engine. So far no consequences as belt hasn't broken. 3. No part have been replaced as of yet. 4. In short it seems almost all evo ix's are affected by this belt wear on the idler pulley, power steering pulley, and possibly others. I just don't want to see one of these belts break on this performance turbo car at high speeds... Could cause many injuries in my opinion. Keep and eye out for many many others to send in a report in the next few days on the evo ix's as I will be posting up a link to this site on our main community site. *tr”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2009
“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”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2008
“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”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Mar 2007
Recalls - 2 campaigns
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured June 29, 2005, to June 19, 2007, equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-002.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
How other years compare
Check your exact Lancer Evolution by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliable?
NHTSA has 24 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling.
Does the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.