2002 Mitsubishi LANCER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
148 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 86 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 148 complaints (8.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 26 | 17.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Visibility | 10 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 9 |
| Suspension | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 6 |
Air Bags: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Visibility: 10; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 9; Suspension: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 12
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 62 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2002: 18; 2003: 16; 2004: 19; 2005: 8; 2006: 16; 2007: 10; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 9; 2011: 9; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 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 10001086 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT HER. THE DUAL AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001086 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 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 10011647 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
THE ENGINE REVVED, AND THEN EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013663 · 2003-03-29 (March 29, 2003)
CAR WAS HIT ON SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN DEATH OF PASSENGER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013795 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION OF MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. SERVICE TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED A BULLETIN FROM MITSUBISHI REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. APPARENTLY BOTH ARE BAD ON MY AUTOMOBILE. THE RECOMMENDED FIX TO THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN IS A SPECIAL LUBE, HOWEVER AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS UNDER A FULL BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY, SERVICE HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR OVER A MONTH, DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014245 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
PAINT CRACKS AND CHIPS EASILY; TREE SAP AND BIRD DROPPINGS EAT THE PAINT EVEN IF WASHED OFF THE SAME DAY; PAINT IS VERY THIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014245 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.
04V428000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V458000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
NHTSA campaign record ↗