YearToAvoid

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#6 most-complained of 6 Lancer Evolution years

The 2012 Lancer Evolution has 3 NHTSA complaints, 1 recall, and a complaint index of 0, ranking 6th of 6 model years — the lowest complaint volume in the lineup. Transmission & powertrain issues make up 67% of reported problems.

Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
17 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain2 (67%)
  2. Brakes1 (33%)
  3. Structure & Body1 (33%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the transmission is hard to shift into gear from a stop up to about 40 mph, with delayed acceleration from missed shifts.
  • At a median mileage of 31,650, one owner reported a sudden '4WD service required' warning and loss of the driving-mode indicator while stationary.
  • A driver's seat leg bolster was reported to have broken internally at 50,000 miles, allowing the seat side bolster to give way.
2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2013Jul 2014Apr 2016
4 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2013 to Apr 2016; peak Jul 2014 (2).

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 13V446000Sep 19, 2013Transmission & Powertrain10,474 vehicles

    Power train:manual transmission

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured from December 12, 2007, through March 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the clutch master cylinder can fail.

    Risk: Failure of the clutch master cylinder reduces the ability to shift the vehicle into or out of gear, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected clutch master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2013. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's campaign number for this recall is SR-13-009.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,200
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.

2012 compared with other Lancer Evolution years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10028518.5
2011Caution6011319
2012No verdict03119
2013No verdict404119
2014Avoid806219

All Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliable?
NHTSA lists only 3 complaints and 1 recall for the 2012 Lancer Evolution, giving it a complaint index of 0 — the lowest among the 6 model years with data, ranking 6th (best) overall.
What problems does the 2012 Lancer Evolution have?
The top reported problem area is Transmission & Powertrain, accounting for 67% of complaints, followed by single reports each for Brakes and Structure & Body.
Does the 2012 Lancer Evolution have a recall?
Yes, one recall, campaign 13V446000, covers 2008-2013 Lancer Evolution vehicles for a clutch master cylinder issue; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2012 model compare to other Lancer Evolution years?
The 2012 model has a complaint index of 0, well below 2010 (100, Avoid), 2011 (60, Caution), and 2014 (80, Avoid), making it one of the better years by complaint volume.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Lancer Evolution?
EPA rates it at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200.

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.