The Lemon Index
Mitsubishi's 2.0 L turbo inline-4, DOHC in the Lancer Evolution VIII / IX, model years 2003–2006. YouTube likes the 2006 best.
Middle of the pack: YouTube owner tone 48/100, #87 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); 1 engine-related recall on record, 9 known issues listed below.
Everyday cars with this engine Tap a year for that car's full report.
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Evolution VIII / IX20052006
Model years from EPA version lists. Only years we have a car page for.
Reliability by year
Why the car pages show more: the Evo page counts 136 complaints and 4 recall campaigns for 2003–2006, everything NHTSA files as "Lancer Evolution", other engines included; the Eclipse page counts 905 complaints and 17 recall campaigns for 1995–1999, everything NHTSA files as "Eclipse", other engines included; the Evo VII page counts 0 complaints and 0 recall campaigns for 2001–2003, everything NHTSA files as "", other engines included. This page counts only the 151 complaints and 4 recalls we can tie to the Mitsubishi 4G63T 2.0 turbo by model name or the owner's own words.
YouTube videos are most positive about the 2006 (49) and least about the 2003 (48); neighboring years share many of the same videos, so small gaps mean little.
How we count: owner complaints only where the car's name and year leave no doubt; YouTube tone from videos that name this engine or its cars. How we count
Owner complaints (NHTSA) are filed by model and year, not engine. We count one for this engine only when the model name and year had no other engine (e.g. "488 GTB", "GT-R"), or when the owner's own words name a version that had only this engine that year (Z06, ZR1, Hellcat, GT500 ...). They cover the whole car (wheels, air bags, electrics ...), not only the engine, and none of them is a failure rate. We chart them only for engines with 30 or more, over 3 or more years. YouTube tone = how positive the videos are, 0–100, from titles and transcripts (praise vs trouble words, the title counts 3 times), weighted by views; a year needs at least 3 videos' worth. A video counts for this engine when its title names the engine or a car that only had this engine in the years it names; a video whose title names no model year counts toward every year of that car, so neighboring years share most of their videos.
All the numbers, year by year
| Year | Cars | Owner complaints | YouTube says | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Lancer Evolution VIII / IX | 99 | 48 (135 videos) | 2 |
| 2004 | Lancer Evolution VIII / IX | 2 | 48 (131 videos) | 1 |
| 2005 | Lancer Evolution VIII / IX | 16 | 48 (132 videos) | 2 |
| 2006 | Lancer Evolution VIII / IX | 34 | 49 (137 videos) | 2 |
Recalls on cars with this engine 4
1 of them is about the engine, fuel, cooling or powertrain. They come first.
05V335000 Engine And Engine Cooling · Mitsubishi LANCER EVOLUTION 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE TURBO CHARGER COOLANT HOSE WAS INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED, AND MAY ALLOW COOLANT LEAKAGE.
16V334000 Air Bags · Mitsubishi LANCER EVOLUTION 2006
16V458000 Suspension · Mitsubishi LANCER EVOLUTION 2003–06
04V138000 Equipment · Mitsubishi LANCER EVOLUTION 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND PUERTO RICO, THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) AND GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR) AS STATED ON THE CERTIFICATION LABEL ARE IN ERROR.
NHTSA recalls by model and year. A recall counts here when every confirmed version of that model-year had this engine, or the recall names it. Check a car's VIN for its own open recalls.
Engine problems Mitsubishi told dealers about
Mitsubishi sent dealers 10 repair notes about the engine on these cars, including:
- Freeze-frame data for misfire conditions
- Rough idle/misfire
- Premature water pump failure
NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins), matched by model name and year like the complaints, engine-related ones only. A repair note is not a recall: ask a seller whether it was done.
Known issues on record
- Random misfire code (2003) (Owner-reported (NHTSA)). Eight 2003 Evo complaints to NHTSA describe a recurring P0300 random-misfire code that dealers could not fix. One owner says Mitsubishi blamed a faulty input shaft in a service bulletin. 9 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (CT9A (Evo VIII) Evo).
- Timing belt area noise (2006) (Owner-reported (NHTSA)). Thirteen 2006 Evo IX complaints describe a grinding or scraping noise from the timing belt area, mostly on cold starts. Owners blame the idler pulley or tensioner bracket, and some say a dealer pulley swap did not stop it. 12 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (CT9A (Evo IX) Evo).
- Turbo coolant hose recall (Recall). On some 2005 cars the turbocharger coolant hose was made wrong and can leak. Coolant on the hot manifold can catch fire. Fix: Dealer replaces the hose for free (NHTSA 05V-335).
- Crank walk (Owner-reported (NHTSA)). Twelve NHTSA complaints on 1995-1998 Eclipses describe crank walk, where the crankshaft moves back and forth and wears the thrust bearing. Owners report failed crank sensors, stalling and engine replacement, and some say mechanics called it common. 11 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (2G (D31A–D39A) Eclipse).
- Transfer case lockup recall (Recall). On all-wheel-drive Eclipses from 1990-1998, the transfer case can lock up from too little oil, which can cause a loss of control. NHTSA also has 39 owner complaints about transfer case leaks or lockups on 1995-1999 cars. Fix: Dealer checks the oil level and leaks, and replaces a worn transfer case (NHTSA 98V-069). 39 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (2G (D31A–D39A) Eclipse).
- Timing belt failure (Owner-reported (NHTSA)). Ten complaints on 1995-1999 Eclipses describe a timing belt or tensioner failing. Several say it wrecked the valves or the top half of the engine. The complaints do not always say which engine the car had. 9 owner complaints to NHTSA mention it (2G (D31A–D39A) Eclipse).
- Turned-up boost on modified cars (Outlet report). RAC's used Evo VII guide says to look for aftermarket fuel cuts or cable ties around the turbo hoses, signs the boost has been raised. It calls the engine itself untemperamental.
- AYC needs the dealer tool (Outlet report). Most Evo VIIs have Active Yaw Control, and RAC says servicing it needs Mitsubishi's MUT-II diagnostic tool, so a specialist is the safer bet.
- Grey-import checks (Outlet report). RAC says Japanese-market cars need the 112 mph speed limiter removed, an mph speedometer and odometer, a rear fog light and proper underseal. It also says any trim can be dressed up as another, so check RS and GSR identity.
Sources: NHTSA complaints: 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, Lancer Evolution entries, NHTSA complaints: 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, NHTSA recall 05V-335: turbocharger coolant hose (Jul 2005), NHTSA complaints: 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, NHTSA complaints: 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse, NHTSA complaints: 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse, NHTSA recall 98V-069: transfer case lockup, 1990-1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse, NHTSA complaints: 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse, RAC: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII (2001-2003) used car review (Andy Enright, Oct 2005). The same list as on the Evo page, the Eclipse page, the Evo VII page.
Every US version with this engine
| Car and versions | Years |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII / IX Lancer Evolution · Mitsubishi Lancer, every year | 2003–06 |
Engine code: 4G63T. Power: 271–286 hp, factory figures (271 hp (2003 Evo VIII); later figures from EPA-era press, not in our sources). Versions and years: EPA (fueleconomy.gov). Sources: Mitsubishi 4G6 engine.
Quick answers
What cars have the Mitsubishi 4G63T 2.0 turbo engine?
In the US: the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII / IX, model years 2003–2006. See the version table for each one.
Is the Mitsubishi 4G63T 2.0 turbo reliable?
Mostly, with known issues to check. YouTube owner tone 48/100, #87 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); 1 engine-related recall on record, 9 known issues listed below. Owners filed 151 complaints we can tie to it, about any part of the car. Its cars had 4 recalls (1 about the engine, fuel or powertrain). Have any used car inspected.
How much horsepower does the Mitsubishi 4G63T 2.0 turbo make?
271–286 hp in factory figures, depending on the car (271 hp (2003 Evo VIII); later figures from EPA-era press, not in our sources).