Mitsubishi Lancer complaints by model year
868 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2010 | 51 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 2009 | 98 | 11 | 3 | 8 |
| 2008 | 91 | 8 | 2 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2006 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2005 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2004 | 83 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2003 | 199 | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| 2002 | 148 | 32 | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2008–2017. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 11 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 2 |
| Engine | 13 | 22 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 23 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 7 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mitsubishi Lancer recalls (15)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Lancer model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V279000 | May 18, 2020 | Lower Control Arm May Detach Due to Corrosion | 2008, 2009, 2010 | 46.6% |
| 18V220000 | Apr 5, 2018 | Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Explode | 2004, 2005, 2006 | 41.3% |
| 18V071000 | Jan 26, 2018 | Sun Roof Glass may Detach from Assembly | 2008, 2009, 2010 | 26.8% |
| 18V069000 | Jan 26, 2018 | Belt Tensioner may Break Allowing Belt to Detach | 2009–2012 | 38.4% |
| 17V609000 | Sep 29, 2017 | Engine may Stall or Overheat | 2015, 2016 | 71.3% |
| 17V569000 | Sep 14, 2017 | Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture | 2004, 2005, 2006 | 18.5% |
| 16V563000 | Jul 28, 2016 | Vehicle Hesitation when Accelerating | 2016 | 84.2% |
| 16V458000 | Jun 23, 2016 | Lower Control Arm Detachment Due to Corrosion | 2002–2007 | 18.2% |
| 16V334000 | May 23, 2016 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2006, 2007 | 23.3% |
| 15V232000 | Apr 20, 2015 | Loss of Lights and/or Windshield Wipers | 2009, 2010 | 54.3% |
| 15V233000 | Apr 20, 2015 | Blower Motor may Fail | 2009, 2010, 2011 | 56.3% |
| 14V562000 | Sep 12, 2014 | Drive Belt may Detach due to Worn Engine Pulley | 2008–2011 | 46.6% |
| 09V435000 | Nov 5, 2009 | FRONT SENSOR SAFETY | 2008, 2009 | — |
| 09V077000 | Mar 10, 2009 | BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE | 2008, 2009 | — |
| 04V428000 | Sep 1, 2004 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL | 2002, 2003, 2004 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 4★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 4★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2015 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 4★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2014 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 4★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2013 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 4★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2012 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 4★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mitsubishi Lancer FAQ
How many recalls has the Mitsubishi Lancer had?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mitsubishi Lancer model year from 1996 to 2017. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2003 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (199) and the 2007 the fewest (2). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
Across the 2008–2017 model years, owners most often name the power train, engine, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Lancer get?
EPA rates the 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer at 26 to 30 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.