Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs FORD F 150
How the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs FORD F 150: The Evo averaged 29 complaints per year with 27 recalls, while the F-150 averaged 1,131 complaints and 145 recalls over 10 years. Both suffer power train issues, but the F-150's are more frequent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a high-performance sports sedan that demands attentive maintenance. Over 10 years, it averaged 29 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the power train, especially clutch and transmission failures at low mileage. Owners also report electronic stability control glitches and electrical problems that can cause stalling or no-start conditions. While it has fewer complaints than the Ford F-150, the severity of power train failures can be costly.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that sees heavy use, reflected in a much higher complaint volume: about 1,131 per year over 10 years. Power train complaints dominate, particularly hard shifting and loss of power from the 10-speed automatic transmission. Electrical issues, such as battery cable problems and camera malfunctions, are also frequent. With 145 recalls and 1 death reported, it's clear that some defects can have serious consequences.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 290 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 27 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 18 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- 01POWER TRAIN113
- 02ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)40
- 03ENGINE36
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING26
Owners report premature clutch failure, sometimes before 2,000 miles, and transmission issues like master/slave cylinder failure. These can leave you stranded and cost thousands to repair.
Complaints describe sudden dashboard warnings and driving-mode lights flashing even at low speeds, which may indicate sensor or module faults. This could affect traction control when you need it most.
Some owners report excessive oil consumption, needing to add a quart every 1,000 miles. Ignoring this can lead to engine damage over time.
Random clicking noises, flickering dashboard lights, and stalling while in park are reported. These electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and may cause no-start situations.
“I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE WITH 200 MILES ON IT AT 700 MILES TOOK IT IN FOR LATCHES AND RATTLES. SINCE THAT HAIR EVERY 8K MIKES IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH AT 22K MILES MADTER SLAVE FAILED TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GIVE OUT AT 28K MILES. PLEASE REVIVE SAWC EVERY 1,000 M…”
“I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, AND TWO MONTHS LATER @ 1847 MILES, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO WARRANTY REPAIR THE FAILURE, SO I STARTED INVESTIGATING THEIR CLUTCHES. IT TURNS OUT SIX LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS AS WELL AS 4 MI…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners experience hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and even sudden loss of power from the 10-speed automatic transmission. This can happen at highway speeds, increasing crash risk.
Complaints include battery cable issues, camera malfunctions, and pre-collision assist warnings. These electrical faults can disable safety features and leave you with a dead battery.
Headlight problems are common, with reports of flickering or failure. Poor lighting reduces visibility and can be a safety hazard.
Some engine issues are reported, though less frequently than transmission problems. Recalls exist for engine-related defects, so check for open recalls.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution — 27 recalls
The defect: 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.
The risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines,…
The risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owne…
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The fix: 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 reca…
The defect: MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER EVOLUTION, RALLIART, AND SPORTBACK RALLIART VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGED ENGINES. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FUEL RETURN PIPE IS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE, IN COMBINATION WITH FREQUENT VEHICLE OPERATION AT CERTAIN ENGINE REVOLUTIONS, MAY RESULT I…
The risk: IF THIS STRESS CRACK DEVELOPS, FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: THE FUEL RETURN PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW PART AND TWO ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENT BRACKETS WILL BE INSTALLED TO BETTER CONTROL FUEL PIPE VIBRATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009. OW…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has far fewer complaints per year (29 vs. 1,131), but its issues tend to be severe and expensive, especially clutch and transmission failures. The Ford F-150's higher volume means you're more likely to encounter problems, but many are covered by recalls or extended warranties. In practice, the Evo demands a diligent owner, while the F-150 may require more frequent dealer visits.
Key differences
- The Lancer Evolution averages 29 complaints per year, while the Ford F-150 averages 1,131—a 39-fold difference.
- Power train complaints dominate both, but the Evo's are often clutch failures at low mileage, whereas the F-150's are transmission shifting and power loss.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, compared to 27 for the Evo, meaning more defects may be addressed for free.
- Electrical issues are common in both, but the F-150's include battery cables and camera systems, while the Evo's involve random stalling and flickering lights.
- Check for clutch wear or replacement records; many owners needed new clutches before 30,000 miles.
- Test the electronic stability control system and look for dashboard warnings; ESC faults can cause sudden loss of traction control.
- Test-drive the truck and feel for hard or delayed shifts, especially between 4th and 8th gears; transmission problems are widespread.
- Inspect battery cables and electrical connections; complaints include battery drain and camera malfunctions.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the clutch and transmission for the Evo, or the 10-speed automatic for the F-150.
- Scan for stored error codes, especially in the ESC system for the Evo and electrical modules for the F-150.
- Check oil levels and look for leaks; the Evo may consume oil, and the F-150 may have engine issues.
- Test all electrical features: lights, cameras, infotainment, and driver-assist systems.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs FORD F 150
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution total complaints
- 290
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution total recalls
- 27
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution avg complaints/year
- 29.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN