Mitsubishi Lancer Problems by Year
NHTSA has 865 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls on file for the Mitsubishi Lancer, across 18 model years (1996–2017). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (199). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Mitsubishi Lancer years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Lancer year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Lancer: 199 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2002 Lancer: 148 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2009 Lancer: 98 complaints, 8 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1996 Lancer: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2000 Lancer: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2007 Lancer: 2 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mitsubishi Lancer problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 159 | 15 | 10 |
| Visibility problems | 127 | 8 | 0 |
| Air Bags problems | 112 | 16 | 58 |
| Engine | 78 | 13 | 2 |
| Suspension | 78 | 12 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 74 | 14 | 3 |
| Structure | 60 | 14 | 6 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 54 | 10 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 45 | 11 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 43 | 9 | 13 |
| Steering | 43 | 11 | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 32 | 10 | 3 |
| Equipment | 26 | 6 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 23 | 11 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 7 | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 21 | 9 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 14 | 8 | 1 |
| Tires | 14 | 7 | 0 |
| Wheels | 11 | 7 | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mitsubishi Lancer problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2003: visibility (71) · power train (51)
All Mitsubishi Lancer model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Lancer | 6 | 0 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2016 Lancer | 30 | 2 | 4★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 Lancer | 23 | 1 | 4★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Lancer | 16 | 0 | 4★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Lancer | 5 | 0 | 4★ | Engine | |
| 2012 Lancer | 19 | 1 | 4★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Lancer | 34 | 3 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Lancer | 51 | 6 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 Lancer | 98 | 8 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Lancer | 91 | 5 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Lancer | 2 | 2 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2006 Lancer | 37 | 4 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 Lancer | 24 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Lancer | 80 | 4 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Lancer | 199 | 2 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Lancer | 148 | 2 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Lancer | 1 | 0 | — | Child Seat | |
| 1996 Lancer | 1 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling |
More from Mitsubishi: all Mitsubishi models · Mitsubishi VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Lancer years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2002 (148), 2003 (199), 2004 (80), 2008 (91), 2009 (98), 2010 (51) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Lancer year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mitsubishi Lancer?
Power Train, with 159 complaints across 15 model years.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Lancer have?
15 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.