Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Lower Control Arm Detachment Due to Corrosion
- Summary
- 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.
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (199)
199 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 199 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 71 | 35.7% |
| Power train | 51 | 25.6% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 8% |
| Equipment | 13 | 6.5% |
| Structure | 13 | 6.5% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 6% |
| Suspension | 10 | 5% |
| Air bags | 8 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 3.5% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 3% |
How 2003 compares with other Lancer years
Best and worst Lancer years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 148 | 2 |
| 2003 | 199 | 2 |
| 2004 | 83 | 4 |
| 2005 | 24 | 3 |
| 2006 | 37 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 | 2 |
| 2008 | 91 | 5 |
| 2009 | 98 | 8 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 342 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2003 Lancer for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer FAQ
How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 16V458000 (suspension), 04V428000 (equipment). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
Owners filed 199 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility (71), Power train (51), Unknown or other (16) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 24 city, 30 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2003 Lancer compare with other years?
Among the 1996–2009 Mitsubishi Lancer model years at least five years old, the 1996 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2003 the most (199). The 2003 drew 199. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.