Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 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 ↗Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Explode
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
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.
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 (24)
24 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 10 | 41.7% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 8.3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 8.3% |
| Structure | 2 | 8.3% |
| Suspension | 2 | 8.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 8.3% |
| Engine | 1 | 4.2% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 4.2% |
| Power train | 1 | 4.2% |
How 2005 compares with other Lancer years
Best and worst Lancer years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2010 | 51 | 6 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 31 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2005 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
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer FAQ
How many recalls does the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 18V220000 (air bag), 17V569000 (air bag), 16V458000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
Owners filed 24 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (10), Electrical system (2), Service brakes (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 24 city, 31 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2005 Lancer compare with other years?
Among the 2000–2010 Mitsubishi Lancer model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2003 the most (199). The 2005 drew 24. 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.