2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: Problems & Reliability
TOO FEW REPORTS2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: TOO FEW REPORTS — 2 owner complaints; top issue: engine (1 complaint).
The verdict engine has only 2 complaints for the 2009 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2005–2015 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
2
NHTSA complaints
11
Model years compared
72
Service bulletins
5
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems
Engine dominates the record — 50% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2009 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 50% |
| Tires | 1 | 50% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls
5 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2009, reported between Sep 8, 2009 and Jan 26, 2018.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 18V071000 | Jan 26, 2018 | Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly |
| 14V562000 | Sep 12, 2014 | Engine & cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys |
| 13V446000 | Sep 19, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission › Manual transmission |
| 09V435000 | Nov 5, 2009 | Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive |
| 09V349000 | Sep 8, 2009 | Fuel system, other › Delivery |
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 72 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2009 — close to the 72 of the median Lancer Evolution year from 2005 to 2015. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (23), engine & cooling (15), powertrain / transmission (13). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2009 vs. the year before and after
From the 2008 to the 2009, owner complaints fell by more than half (59 → 2) — an improvement. The 2010 that followed jumped 39.5× (2 → 79), so the 2009 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Lancer Evolution | AVOID | 59 | 82 | 4 | — |
| 2009 (this page) | TOO FEW REPORTS | 2 | 72 | 5 | — |
| 2010 Lancer Evolution | AVOID | 79 | 87 | 5 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Engine (1 complaint on the 2009): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Tires (1 complaint on the 2009): check tread depth and date codes, and look for uneven wear that points to alignment problems.
Recalls: confirm all 5 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
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Found a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
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FAQ
Is the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliable?
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: TOO FEW REPORTS — 2 owner complaints; top issue: engine (1 complaint). The verdict engine has only 2 complaints for the 2009 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
What are the most common 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are engine (1, 50%), tires (1, 50%). The manufacturer has 72 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have?
5 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, most recently 18V071000 (Jan 26, 2018, visibility); 14V562000 (Sep 12, 2014, engine & cooling); 13V446000 (Sep 19, 2013, powertrain / transmission). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.