2005 Mitsubishi LANCER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 24 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 25.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Air Bags: 9; Suspension: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10142621 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
BRAKE FAILURE AT 7032 MI BRAKES COMPLETELY METAL TO METAL LOSS OF MOST BRAKING FUNCTIONS VERY POOR RESPONSE TIME,BRAKE PADS REPLACED,BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN AT 13560 BRAKES AGAIN METAL TO METAL VERY POOR RESPONSE TIME,BRAKE PADS REPLACED AGAIN,BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN AT 18500 AGAIN BRAKES METAL TO METAL LOSS OF BRAKE RESPONSE TIME VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISES UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKING SYSTEMS SERVICE REFUSED BY DEALER ALL WITHIN 10 MONTHS OF VEHICLE PURCHASE BRAND NEW. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162476 · 2006-07-15 (July 15, 2006)
2005 LANCER ES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED 8-11-05 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. APPROXIMATELY 8,500 MILES, BEGAN TO HEAR RUBBING SOUNDS WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGH SPEED- THOUGHT IT NEEDED ALIGNMENT, SO TOOK IT IN, HAD WHEELS ALIGNED, AND ROTATED, (ALREADY HAD PREVIOUS ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION @ 6,000 MILES.) AFTER LOCAL (SURFACE STREET) DRIVING ONLY, AT 9,800 TOOK TO DEALER TO INSPECT PROBLEM, WITHIN 11 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. DEALER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKES WEARING OUT UNDER 15,000 MILES. SEEMS DEFECTIVE TO ME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289499 · 2009-10-23 (October 23, 2009)
HELLO MY NAME IS RYAN GIROUARD, I OWN A 2005 MITSUBISHI RALLIART SEDAN,MY MASTER CYLINDER BROKE DOWN DRIVING ON ROAD ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, WARRANTY CLAIMED TO BE NOT COVERED, MASTER CYLINDER BLED OUT COMPLETELY. IS THERE A WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS PART? AND IS MY CLUTCH PLATE DAMAGED DUE TO BLEED OUT OF MASTER CYLINDER? AS A RESULT DESTROYING OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WERE IN WORKING ORDER,I'M CONCERNED AS ITS NOT A REGULAR WEARING PART OF THIS VEHICLE. AS I'M AWARE OIL, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OTHER FLUIDS, WIPER BLADES , TI…
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341985 · 2020-07-29 (July 29, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CUP FROM THE BALL JOINTS, THE FRONT END, TIE ROD, UNKNOWN WIRING HARNESS AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN MITSUBISHI DEALER HOWEVER, WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11701340 · 2025-11-24 (November 24, 2025)
The steering column on my 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer ES detached while driving. The entire column dropped down from its mounting brackets, causing loss of control. This is a serious safety hazard. The mount bolts were intact previously, but they came loose or the bracket failed without warning. This could have resulted in a crash and severe injury. I believe this may be a structural or manufacturing defect and could affect other Lancer vehicles of similar year. I performed a temporary repair myself so the vehicle could be moved safely, but this doe…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11701340 at NHTSA ↗