2009 Lancer, clutch went out at under 20,000 miles. I have been reading of many clutch problems in past models, is there a trend here. I have owed 15 cars, half have been manual transmission. I have only had to replace 2 clutches: Mitsubishi 3000 GT at 40,000 and the Lancer at 18,000. I have a 10 year old Jeep Wrangler manual that my kids learned to drive on with about 70,000 miles with it's original clutch.

- Columbus , OH, USA

I bought a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer in may of '08. I traded in my '04 Lancer at that time with 145,000kms. All original parts except for brakes. I moved to bc in Aug '08 from alberta where I had bought my car. I was coming home from christmas in ab on Jan.2/09 when the hinge on my drivers side window broke, and my clutch started to slip. I drove my my car an hour and a half to the nearest Mitsubishi dealership the next day. The mechanic that day told me that the rear seal had a leak, that oil had been spraying likely through the clutch and that I was lucky to have made it. When a different person called me on Monday, he said that when they took it apart, the seal had been factory installed wrong and that's what was causing the oil to leak. However, there was no trace of oil in the clutch and that it was worn. He told me that they will cover the seal and the window, I would have to pay for the clutch. I have driven manual for over 10 years. I have driven to ab and back 4 times in my new car, so 80% of the 30,000kms on it are hwy driven. I got 145,000kms and 4 1/2 yrs on the last Lancer I bought, and traded it in with the original clutch. I have talked to mgr's and supervisor's, and they all go back and talk to the mechanic. Saying that I am responsible. No second opinion. Leaving me to cover the cost of a new clutch ($600). I have since found reports that there have been previous problems with clutches on older models. Could there not be problems with new ones too" especially when 2 other major breaks happened on the same day on my car" both factory problems.

- Enderby, 00, USA