2004 Mitsubishi LANCER SPORTBACK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
104,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 8 complaints (62.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10955571 · 2017-02-20 (February 20, 2017)
AFTER CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB ON THE DASHBOARD WAS STUCK AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN FROM COLD TO WARM. WHEN TURNING THE KNOB, THE KNOB BROKE EXPOSING ELECTRICAL PANELING. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE AND WAS WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR WITH THE OUTSIDE BEING BELOW-FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THIS HAPPENED WHILE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY, BUT IF HAPPENED WHILE MOVING COULD HAVE CREATED AN UNSAFE DISTRACTION LEADING TO A DANGEROUS INCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10955571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11048286 · 2017-11-24 (November 24, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL - I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HICKORY MITSUBISHI IN HICKORY, NC TO GET THE AIRBAG FIXED. I PICKED UP MY CAR IN THE AFTERNOON. IT STARTED TO GET DARK ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, SO I TURNED MY LIGHTS ON. I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTS ON MY CAR. I CAN'T SEE MY ODOMETER, SHIFT COLUMN,ETC. I HAD TO TRAVEL A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE TO GET THIS REPAIR SINCE THERE IS NO LONGER A MITSUBISHI DEALER WHERE I LIVE. NOW I HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK THERE AND SIT FOR ANOTHER 2.5 HOURS WHILE THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY DID TO MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'M NOT SURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 157,833 miles reported. Look up ODI 11048286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404315 · 2011-06-03 (June 3, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY APPLYING THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THAT ADVISED THAT THE FLY-BY-WIRE WOULD NEED REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404315 at NHTSA ↗