2009 Mitsubishi LANCER RALLIART: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
58,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 22 complaints (77.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 22.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 17 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Power Train: 17; Steering: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 11; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10315299 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)
I'LL TURN THE CAR ON AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE BUT THE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE REVERSE LIGHT ON THE DISPLAY PANEL JUST CONTINUES TO BLINK. ANOTHER ISSUE INVOLVING THE TRANSMISSION OCCURS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL, THE CLUTCH FAILS TO ENGAGE CAUSING IT TO SLIP WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE, THE RPMS JUST SHOOT THROUGH THE ROOF FURTHER PROVING OF CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. AT THIS POINT, THE CAR WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO SHIFT TO 2, 4, OR …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,849 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315904 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
THE TRANSMISSION TC-SST IS FAILING ON THE 2009 RALLIART FROM MITSUBISHI THE GEARS GO CRAZY ON ME AND JUMP AROUND AND GEARS ARE SLIPPING AND GETTING STUCK. OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING I THINK IT SHOULD BE RE-CALL TO GET THIS FIXED. IT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IT ALMOST DID FOR ME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10414787 · 2011-07-22 (July 22, 2011)
I WAS DRIVING FROM DALLAS, TX, TO EL PASO, TX IN MY 2009 MITSUBISHI RALLIART. AROUND 3PM AND WITH AN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE OF APPROX 99 DEGREES FARENHEIT (BASED ON THE DISPLAY READOUT ON THE CAR). I NOTICED A VERY VERY STRONG RAW FUEL OR GAS SMELL COMING IN FROM THE VENTS. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON, SO I TURNED IT TO RECIRCULATING AIR, IT PERSISTED, SO I TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF, BUT THE VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL, TO MY AMAZEMENT, PERSISTED. 2 PASSENGERS (MY ELDERLY DAD 76, AND MY LITTLE SISTER, 18) ALSO NOTICED THE SMELL. THE SMELL LASTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10414787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421264 · 2011-08-24 (August 24, 2011)
2009 MITSUBSHI LANCER RALLIART PULLS HARD TO RIGHT AT ALL TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. TOOK TO A SUSPENSION SHOP SAID MANUFACTURE SET CAMBER IS OFF. I HAVE WENT THRU MY THIRD SET OF FRONT TIRES IN ONLY 45,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR SAFETY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10421264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462699 · 2012-06-22 (June 22, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING . THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SEVERED. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUED TO FRACTURE AND THE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIRE CHAMBER. THE FRONT OUTER TIE ROD AND THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FRONT TIRES CONTINUED TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10499566 · 2013-02-21 (February 21, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY CERTAIN GEARS COULD BE ENGAGED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE INDICATOR MODULE WOULD INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564208 · 2014-02-13 (February 13, 2014)
ALL WHEEL CONTROL PUMP UNITS CONTINUE TO FAIL WITH OUT MITS... ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. COSTING MIN $2000 FOR REPAIRS. THEY MOST OF THE TIME REFUSE TO REPLACE A POORLY ENGINEERED AWC PUMP. UNDER A SUPPOSED AWESOME WARRANTY. THESE UNITS ARE FAILING ALL OVER CANADA & US. WITH MITS KNOWING ITS A PROBLEM. BUT NOT RESOLVING IT. HELP US OWNERS PLEASE. I DON'T WANT TO OR SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A $2000 PUMP EVERY 10,000 KMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584964 · 2014-04-25 (April 25, 2014)
AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK LAST WEEK A LIGHT CAME ON THAT LOOKS LIKE MY TIRES ARE UNBALANCED..?... THINKING I MIGHT NEED NEW TIRES, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THAT I DID NOT NEED TIRES. I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND MY TIRES ROTATED INCLUDING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND AN INSPECTION. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP, A LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TURNED AROUND AND BROUGHT IT RIGHT BACK.THE DEALER PUT MY CAR ON A MACHINE AND TOLD ME THE ISSUE IS "CODE C161E" -INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH AWD CONTROL PUMP …
Owner-reported narrative. 31,834 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584964 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V349000 · Fuel System, Other:Delivery
Reported: 2009-09-08 (September 8, 2009)
MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER EVOLUTION, RALLIART, AND SPORTBACK RALLIART VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TURBOCHARGED ENGINES. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FUEL RETURN PIPE IS ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE, IN COMBINATION WITH FREQUENT VEHICLE OPERATION AT CERTAIN ENGINE REVOLUTIONS, MAY RESULT IN A RESONANCE THAT, IF CONTINUED OVER TIME, MAY CAUSE A STRESS CRACK TO DEVELOP AT THE FIXED PORTION OF THE FUEL PIPE.
Consequence: IF THIS STRESS CRACK DEVELOPS, FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: THE FUEL RETURN PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW PART AND TWO ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENT BRACKETS WILL BE INSTALLED TO BETTER CONTROL FUEL PIPE VIBRATION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V562000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Reported: 2014-09-12 (September 12, 2014)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.
Consequence: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.
NHTSA campaign record ↗