2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 11,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “clutch failed” (10% of reports).
- 51power train complaints
- 11,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Clutch failed: mentioned in 5 of 51 complaints (10%)
- Even though: mentioned in 5 of 51 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 41 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 51 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Mitsubishi Lancer power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Lancer | 2 | 33% | — |
| 2016 Lancer | 21 | 70% | 69,000 |
| 2015 Lancer | 5 | 22% | 17,620 |
| 2014 Lancer | 6 | 38% | 55,000 |
| 2013 Lancer | 2 | 40% | 70,003 |
| 2012 Lancer | 6 | 32% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Lancer | 6 | 18% | 35,500 |
| 2010 Lancer | 4 | 8% | 33,000 |
| 2009 Lancer | 14 | 14% | 65,000 |
| 2008 Lancer | 11 | 12% | 89,000 |
| 2006 Lancer | 1 | 3% | 160,000 |
| 2005 Lancer | 1 | 4% | 114,000 |
| 2004 Lancer | 7 | 9% | 55,000 |
| 2003 Lancer | 51 | 26% | 11,000 |
| 2002 Lancer | 22 | 15% | 55,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle decided to shift to low gear while on the highway. It shift gears automatically for no reason. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the clutch failed to function and the contact heard a popping noise . The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
First occurrence happened while attempting to leave a convenience store. Clutch went to floor of vehicle, and did not know what was wrong. Since 1st occurrence it has happened regularly approximately every 3-4 weeks. For the last 8 years. Clutch become spongy and requires me to refill master…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Mitsubishi Lancers have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 51 owner complaints about power train for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer (26% of the 199 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 11,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer?
The most frequent phrase is “clutch failed”, in 5 of 51 complaints, followed by “even though” (5).
Other 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer problems
- Visibility problems (71)
See all 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer problems or power train problems across all Lancer years.