Mitsubishi LANCER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
865 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 533 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 92 of 865 complaints (10.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 112 | 12.9% |
| Braking behavior | 103 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 45 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 38 | 4.4% |
| Engine operation | 37 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 1.2% |
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 | 92 |
| Power Train | 82 |
| Engine | 78 |
| Electrical System | 67 |
| Suspension | 66 |
| Unknown Or Other | 59 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 48 |
| Visibility | 47 |
Air Bags: 92; Power Train: 82; Engine: 78; Electrical System: 67; Suspension: 66; Unknown Or Other: 59; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 48; Visibility: 47
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 145 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 87 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 78 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 78 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 96 |
| 150,000 and above | 49 |
Under 25,000: 145; 25,000 to 49,999: 87; 50,000 to 74,999: 78; 75,000 to 99,999: 78; 100,000 to 149,999: 96; 150,000 and above: 49
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (145). 332 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 43 |
| 2004 | 50 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 32 |
| 2007 | 46 |
| 2008 | 45 |
| 2009 | 43 |
| 2010 | 55 |
| 2011 | 34 |
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 59 |
| 2015 | 49 |
| 2016 | 48 |
| 2017 | 42 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2019 | 49 |
| 2020 | 38 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2000: 1; 2002: 18; 2003: 43; 2004: 50; 2005: 38; 2006: 32; 2007: 46; 2008: 45; 2009: 43; 2010: 55; 2011: 34; 2012: 27; 2013: 27; 2014: 59; 2015: 49; 2016: 48; 2017: 42; 2018: 44; 2019: 49; 2020: 38; 2021: 22; 2022: 22; 2023: 16; 2024: 10; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 112 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 103 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 45 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 10011035 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
CAR ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE AND TOOK OFF WHILE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. LOCAL DEALERSHIP MITSUBISHI OF ORANGE PARK JACKSONVILLE FLA KEPT CAR FOR FROM 3/11/03 UNTIL 3/25/03 TO TRY TO MAKE CAR DUPLICATE SITUATION BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY KEPT IN TOUCH WITH MITSUBISHI TECH SUPPORT BUT NOTHING COULD BE DETERMINED TO WHY CAR DID SUCH A STRANGE THING. THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN ON CARS WHILE IN MOTION, ESPECIALLY ON OLDER MODELS.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036943 · 2003-08-31 (August 31, 2003)
CAR SHIFTS VERY HARD, NOT LIKE HOW A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE SHOULD. HAS A "POPPING" SOUND TO ACCOMPANY THE HARD SHIFT. SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS "GRINDED" BETWEEN SHIFTS. ENGINE HAD REVED TO 4000-5000 RPM'S FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS WITH 19000 MILES AND IT IS ONLY A YEAR OLD. HAS TAKEN OFF ON ME ONCE, WHERE I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE BACK END OF A CAR WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005267 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED... WHAT IS CAUSING HAS NOT BEEN FOUND...
Owner-reported narrative. 9,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006186 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
WITH THE AIR CONDITION ON, THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP, WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO BE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS, ALSO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046296 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)
INTERMITTENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED INTO DRIVER'S LAP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THIS WAS UNUSUAL, WE NEVER HEARD A CASE LIKE THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088803 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COLLAPSED IN MY LAP WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT HAPPENED. SAID IT WAS THE LATCH IN MY COLUMN, HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN 500+ PART, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088803 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 556689 · 2000-10-19 (October 19, 2000)
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070412 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
JUNE 17, 2003 TO: PERUZZI MITSUBISHI ATTENTION: [XXX] 165 LINCOLN HWY FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 19030 DEAR [XXX], WE PURCHASED A MITSUBISHI LANCER IN SEPTEMBER 2002 FROM PERUZZI MITSUBISHI, LOCATED AT 165 LINCOLN HWY, FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 19030. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD 2,074 MILES ON IT. WHEN I ASKED, THE SALESMAN TOLD US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND THE MILES WERE FROM USING THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AS A DEMONSTRATION CAR. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR SERVICE. IT WAS DRIVEN IN O…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,599 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220911 · 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CAN FILL UP HER GAS TANK ONE DAY AND, BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REFUELED. PERIODICALLY, THE CONTACT SMELLS GASOLINE IN HER VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17.
Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577496 · 2014-04-04 (April 4, 2014)
GAS TANK FILLER TUBE IS LEAKING GAS, HARD TO FILL, SETS OFF THE SERVICE LIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577496 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 8; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 0