2003 Mitsubishi LANCER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
199 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 127 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 199 complaints (14.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 13.6% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility | 28 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 28 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element | 12 |
| Equipment | 10 |
| Suspension | 9 |
Visibility: 28; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 28; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 17; Unknown Or Other: 16; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element: 12; Equipment: 10; Suspension: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 44 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 44; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 72 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 22 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 27; 2004: 29; 2005: 13; 2006: 8; 2007: 22; 2008: 8; 2009: 16; 2010: 28; 2011: 14; 2012: 8; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10008250 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
WHEN I DRIVE MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES AT 20 MPH AND WANT TO INCREASE THE SPEED AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPM OF THE CAR WILL INCREASE AND THE SPEED OF THE CAR WILL DECREASE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SPEED WILL INCREASE AS IF THE GEARS IN THE AUTO TRANSMISSION JUST ENGAGED. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. BUT IT HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED MY TRANS. FLUID. I SUSPECT THE AUTO TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023954 · 2003-06-28 (June 28, 2003)
TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER IS FAILING--WENT TO GET ON FREEWAY AND HAD NO SPEED--PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT FINALLY KICKED INTO GEAR. IT LURCHES AND JERKS AND SLIPS GEARS. THE MITSUBISHI SERVICE DEPT. TRIED TO TELL ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT--WHEN I TOOK THE TECHNICIAN FOR A RIDE WE GOT TEN FEET AND IT JERKED AND CLICKED INTO GEAR--THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION BODY VALVE IS FAILING--ORDERED THE PART--TOLD ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED EVEN THOUGH IT IS GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY, AND I AM LEARY OF DRIVING IT ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056282 · 2004-02-01 (February 1, 2004)
BRAKE PADS MANUFACTURED BY CARBOTECH ENGINEERING HTTP://WWW.CARBOTECHENG.COM MANUFACTURER A BRAKE PAD FOR THE 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION THAT IS SOLD AS A "DIRECT STOCK REPLACEMENT" UPON QUESTIONED BY SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT THESE PADS (MYSELF INCLUDED) ABOUT OBSCENELY LOUD NOISES AND WORSE THAN STOCK BRAKING ABILITY, THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION AND CORRECT THE SITUATION AS NECESSARY. THEN ADMITTED THAT THE PADS ARE NOT FOR THE EVOLUTION AND THAT THE PADS DO NOT FIT THE APPLICATION THEY WERE SOLD FOR. THEY REFUSED TO REFUN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099601 · 2004-12-21 (December 21, 2004)
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION . THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ALSO WAS AT A LOSS FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS DEFECT OCCURRED. *AK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK, THE HEATER CONTROLS WOULD BIND UP WHEN TURNED ON AND AT TIMES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042111 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, AND VEHICLE WOBBLED FROM FOUR TO SIX INCHES TO EITHER SIDE. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN INFORMED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209806 · 2007-11-24 (November 24, 2007)
MY STEERING COLUMN WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE, BUT A MECHANIC ASSURED ME THERE NO PROBLEM. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FELL INTO MY LAP AS I ATTEMPTED TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE COLUMN BACK INTO PLACE AND GET THE CAR ACROSS THE STREET TO A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TOO MANY MILES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND TOLD THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP MY BELIEF. I ALSO ADVISED HIM THAT I HAD HAD CARS THAT WERE TOTALED OUT IN ACCIDENTS AND TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 104,624 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059395 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE REVVED THEN STALLED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060970 · 2004-02-27 (February 27, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237314 · 2008-08-07 (August 7, 2008)
I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME. I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 2 MINUTES WHEN MY FRONT SPEAKERS SHUT OFF. I THEN START TO NOTICE A BURNING SMELL. I SEE THE INTERIOR START TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ENGINE FIRE AT FIRST UNTIL I NOTICED A FIRE IN MY PASSENGER DOOR SPEAKER. I PULLED OVER BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. I MADE A CALL TO 911 TO SEND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THANKFULLY THE FIRE HOUSE WAS VERY CLOSE AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT DAMAGED MORE THAN JUST THE DOOR. I HAVE THE DOOR AND SUBSEQUENT …
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11286324 · 2019-12-02 (December 2, 2019)
THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER CONTROLS KNOBS ON DASHBOARD. DO NOT TURN. CAN'T. ADJUST TEMPERATURE ELECTRICAL CERCUIT IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM HAS LOW VOLTAGE THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE.LIGHT TO CPME ON AND TURN OFF AT RANDOM. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY WEEK IN LUMINS. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS , THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WITHOUT. ME PUSHING. ON THE FOOT PEDEL.. THE SUNROOF MOTER CAME UNATTENDED ON IT OWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110481 · 2005-02-13 (February 13, 2005)
EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH IT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, AT FIRST THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM, ROCKLAND MITSUBISHI IN NY, SAID IT WAS JUST A SENSOR IN MY GAS TANK, BUT AFTER FIXING IT, IT KEPT COMING BACK ON. FINALLY THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT, I HAD TO TURN MY CAR OFF COMPLETELY BEFORE PUMPING MY GAS, CLOSE MY TANK TIGHTLY, THEN START MY CAR BACK UP. THIS BACK AND FORTH CONTINUED UNTIL MY NORMAL WARRANTY RAN OUT. AT 70K MILES, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SKIPPING, AND MY ENGINE BEGAN PUTTERING. FINALLY TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206999 · 2007-10-26 (October 26, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THREE VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE CAUSING AN EMISSIONS LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC COVER CRACKED AND THE BOLTS WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. ONE OF THE BOLTS SNAPPED OFF AND THE ENTIRE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SHE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $1,500, BUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206999 at NHTSA ↗