2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Lancer years
- Fewer complaints than other years 10th of 18 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. That ranks 10th out of 18 Lancer model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (10 complaints, 42%), typically at around 75,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

- 24owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 10 | 42% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 8% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 8% | 7,750 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 8% | 132,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 8% | 135,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% | 71,442 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 4% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 4% | 150 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 4% | 114,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 4% | 8,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 4% | 59,470 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles that previously received a like-for-like passenger side frontal air bag inflator under recall 15V321 as interim remedy. Also recalled are 2004-2006 Lancer vehicles located in Guam or Saipan that previously received or never received a new inflator under 15V321 or 17V569. These passenger side frontal air bag inflators may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to explode in the event of an air bag deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-005.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-17-001. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-321.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Problem: 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.
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA15001) — opened Feb 24, 2015, still open, led to recall 14V668.
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture (PE14016) — opened Jun 11, 2014, closed Mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V172000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The steering column on my 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer ES detached while driving. The entire column dropped down from its mounting brackets, causing loss of control. This is a serious safety hazard. The mount bolts were intact previously, but they came loose or the bracket failed without warning. This…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that the cup from the ball joints, the front end, tie rod, unknown wiring harness and the driver's side headlight failed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown mitsubishi dealer however, was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer…
The signal lights stop working also the hazards. The horn remains on. A lot of people say that is a problem of the car inside body that take the connector of the junction block and corrode them. A lot of people have this problems. The problem is in motion and stationary.
I sold this car last july 2018 through a trade-in. Please stop sending me all of these horrifying reminders. It is not appreciated. Please remove my name and address from all mailing lists. I did not get it done when i owned the car as the dealership was quite a drive and i could not drop it off…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BELL MITSUBISHI (1500 US-1, RAHWAY, NJ 07065…
Other Mitsubishi Lancer years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Lancer | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 Lancer | 30 | 2 |
| 2015 Lancer | 23 | 1 |
| 2014 Lancer | 16 | 0 |
| 2013 Lancer | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 Lancer | 19 | 1 |
| 2011 Lancer | 34 | 3 |
| 2010 Lancer | 51 | 6 |
| 2009 Lancer | 98 | 8 |
| 2008 Lancer | 91 | 5 |
| 2007 Lancer | 2 | 2 |
| 2006 Lancer | 37 | 4 |
| 2005 | 24 | 3 |
| 2004 Lancer | 80 | 4 |
| 2003 Lancer | 199 | 2 |
| 2002 Lancer | 148 | 2 |
| 2000 Lancer | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 Lancer | 1 | 0 |
See all Mitsubishi Lancer problems by year, every Mitsubishi model, or the Mitsubishi VIN decoder.
Similar Mitsubishi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Lancer model years, the 2005 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.