2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: Problems & Reliability
TOO FEW REPORTS2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: TOO FEW REPORTS — 3 owner complaints; top issue: powertrain / transmission (2 complaints).
The verdict engine has only 3 complaints for the 2012 — 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
3
NHTSA complaints
11
Model years compared
76
Service bulletins
1
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems
Powertrain / transmission dominates the record — 67% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2012 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 2 | 67% |
| Seats | 1 | 33% |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 33% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution recalls
1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2012 (reported Sep 19, 2013).
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 13V446000 | Sep 19, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission › Manual transmission |
2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 76 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2012 — close to the 72 of the median Lancer Evolution year from 2005 to 2015. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (21), powertrain / transmission (13), engine & cooling (12). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2012 vs. the year before and after
From the 2011 to the 2012, owner complaints fell by more than half (45 → 3) — an improvement. The 2013 that followed rose 33% (3 → 4), so the 2012 is the cleaner of the two by count.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Lancer Evolution | CAUTION | 45 | 83 | 3 | — |
| 2012 (this page) | TOO FEW REPORTS | 3 | 76 | 1 | — |
| 2013 Lancer Evolution | TOO FEW REPORTS | 4 | 78 | 1 | — |
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 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Powertrain / transmission (2 complaints on the 2012): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Seats (1 complaint on the 2012): try every power and manual seat adjustment and the seat heaters if fitted.
Electronic stability control (1 complaint on the 2012): make sure the stability-control and ABS lights go out after start-up.
Recalls: confirm the campaign above was completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2012 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
- DealDrive AI negotiator reads any dealer quote and writes your counteroffer
- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
Found a 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution for sale? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution reliable?
2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution: TOO FEW REPORTS — 3 owner complaints; top issue: powertrain / transmission (2 complaints). The verdict engine has only 3 complaints for the 2012 — under the 15-complaint floor — so it is not rated yet rather than called clean by silence.
What are the most common 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are powertrain / transmission (2, 67%), seats (1, 33%), electronic stability control (1, 33%). The manufacturer has 76 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have?
1 recall campaign on federal record for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, most recently 13V446000 (Sep 19, 2013, powertrain / transmission). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2012 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 2012 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.