I BELIEVE THE OUTER TIE RODS ON 2008-2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER (ALL MODELS) ARE DEFECTIVE. I HAD THE PASS SIDE FAIL AT 20K MILES., WHICH WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. IT TOOK OVER A YEAR OF DIAGNOSIS, INCREASED NOISES, AND EVENTUAL UNSAFE HANDLING BEFORE THE SECOND ONE- DRIVERS SIDE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED, THIS TIME BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. I HAD TO PERSONALLY PAY TO HAVE THE SECOND ONE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPRODUCE AND REPLACE AFTER NUMEROUS INQUIRIES. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE BALL JOINT UPON REMOVAL FROM THE IDLER ARM, AND THE JOINT IS ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED. SURPRISINGLY, IT DOES NOT EXHIBIT MUCH PLAY WHEN MOUNTED, AND THE BALL JOINT RUBBER LOOKS OK. IT WOULD BE VERY EASY FOR A CURSORY INSPECTION TO COME UP WITH NOTHING, EVEN WHEN THE JOINT IS DANGEROUSLY NEAR FAILING. NOT ONLY DO I BELIEVE THAT THE PART IS PRONE TO FAILURE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS SAFE EVEN WHEN NEW. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD UNUSUAL STEERING SINCE I BOUGHT IT, THAT CAUSED IT TO DOG TRACK AND DRIFT IN AND OUT OF LANE. I TRIED A VARIETY OF WAYS TO IMPROVE, INCLUDING NEW TIRES, SOLD BY DEALER, PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD REPLACED. NONE ADDRESSED THE STEERING ISSUES, UNTIL I REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET MOOG OUTER TIE RODS AFTER FINDING THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD DEFECTIVE. I HAVE ALSO INQUIRED WITH OTHER OWNERS, SINCE I AM A MEMBER OF A LANCER FORUM. MANY ALSO SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. EITHER THEY HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, OR THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD TODAY WITH TIE RODS THAT ARE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. CONSIDERING THAT THE FAILURE OF THESE PARTS EVENTUALLY LEADS TO DRAMATIC UNDERSTEER, AND SLIDING OUT OF THE FRONT END, WHILE STABILITY CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE, THIS SITUATION COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED A VIDEO OF THE DEFECTIVE PART IN QUESTION. THANKS. *TR
2011
ENGINE
I OWN A MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X GSR 2011. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 2013 BRAND NEW. BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2013 (7 MONTHS) I HAD ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND I STARTED EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR WAS ENGAGING PROPERLY BUT THERE WAS A DELAY ON GETTING TRACTION TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE RAMPED UP SEVERAL RPMS BEFORE THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING IN ANY GEAR. ON OCTOBER 2ND 2013 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BECAUSE IT WAS WORN OFF. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FAIRLY NEW AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, ALL MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES HAVE HAD MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I ALSO GOT THE VEHICLE CHECKED WITH TWO LOCAL MECHANICS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS WORN OFF BEYOND NORMAL. THE CLUTCH IS NOT UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY BECAUSE IT'S WEAR OFF DEPENDS ON THE DRIVER ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI. THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN I CHECKED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE FOR RECALLS AND I FOUND OUT THAT IN NOVEMBER 11 2013 THERE WILL BE A RECALL NOTICED FOR MY VEHICLE FOR THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER NOVEMBER 11 I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM THAT MY CAR IS ONE OF THE CARS AFFECTED AND IT WAS INDEED. I GOT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AND THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. MY QUESTION IS, AND I NEED TO KNOW IF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION CAN DO THE RESEARCH FOR ME, WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF A DAMAGED CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ON THE WEARING OF A CLUTCH? I NOW HAVE TO PAY OVER $2,000 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED. IF THE CLUTCH WAS DAMAGED DUE TO MISS-FUNCTION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER WOULDN'T MITSUBISHI HAVE TO COVER REPAIR COST FOR THE EARLY WEARING OF THE CLUTCH? PLEASE GET BACK TO ME. SINCERELY, *TR