YearToAvoid

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 11 Lancer Evolution years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has 28 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 11 Lancer Evolution model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (20 complaints, 71% of the total). Complaints report 1 fire.

Complaints
28
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 22 hwy

Top 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain20 (71%)
  2. Brakes8 (29%)
  3. Engine5 (18%)
  4. Fuel System4 (14%)
  5. Steering3 (11%)
  6. Electrical System1 (4%)
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2010Feb 2012Apr 2013Nov 2013May 2014Mar 2016Jul 2019
41 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2010 to Jul 2019; peak Mar 2018 (5).

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V071000Jan 26, 2018Visibility & Wipers56,641 vehicles

    Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.

    Risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.

  2. NHTSA 15V232000Apr 20, 2015Electrical System53,396 vehicles

    Electrical system

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be unstable.

    Risk: Unstable voltage could result in intermittent failure of the vehicle's head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. If the headlights and/or windshield wipers fail, the driver could have reduced visibility. If the tail lights fail, the vehicle could be less visible. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected ECU, free of charge. The recall began on June 15 ,2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-002.

  3. NHTSA 15V233000Apr 20, 2015HVAC76,958 vehicles

    Visibility:defroster/defogger/HVAC system:fan/motor

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.

    Risk: Failure of the blower motor may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-003.

See all 5 recalls for the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution →

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Lancer Evolution years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Avoid9036418.5
2009No verdict102518.5
2010Avoid10028518.5
2011Caution5011319
2012No verdict203119

All Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution ranks worst among Lancer Evolution model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 28 complaints and 5 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (20 complaints), brakes (8 complaints), and engine (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 39,500 miles.
Does the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, most recently reported 2018, covering visibility & wipers, electrical system, hvac, and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution?
EPA rates the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at 18.5 MPG combined (16.5 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,325. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.