2002 Mitsubishi Lancer problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility (10) · Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System (9) · Air Bags:frontal (9)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Lancer model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
86 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2016-06-23 · campaign 16V458000 · 194,674 vehicles
Defect: 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 Co
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.
Service bulletins (92)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Structure 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) or 100 lbs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Unknown Or Other 2022-04-07 · TSB-22-54-003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.
Equipment 2019-11-26 · TT253 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a service newsletter (tech talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Showing the 6 most recent of 92 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-06-27 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly · 221,660 mi“the contact's daughter owns a 2002 mitsubishi lancer. the contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she felt an air draft inside of the vehicle. the contact's daughter attempted to close the sunroof when she noticed that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. the dealer was made aware of the failure but informe…”
2021-02-23 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 201,532 mi“smog station inspection report ;; recall onreprogram pcm and replace fan controller…”
2020-04-02 · Suspension“there has no been an incident yet. the vehicle rattles in the front end, exactly where the recalled part is at. i took it to the licensed dealership that i was told was qualified to replace the part and they refused to replace it claiming that the vehicle is too rusty and they don't want to lift it up on the air. i had just had 4 new tires put on i…”
2020-03-02 · Structure:body · 83,000 mi“front lower engine support & cradle are rusted out along with the cross member. i can furnish pictures if necessary.…”
2019-05-03 · Suspension · 160,000 mi“there's a lot of poping underneath front end and there's a recall al on the control arms…”
2018-11-26 · Unknown Or Other · 240,000 mi“this is not the first mitsubishi that has done this. my ex's 2000 mitsubishi eclipse also had this same problem. the speedometer does not register. i need to know how fast i am going.…”
2018-01-22 · Suspension · 38,000 mi“takats recall .manufacturer recall numbersr-16-003…”
2017-07-24 · Unknown Or Other“catalytic converter overheating emissions recall. second is the inside and outside surfaces of the front cross members used on certain vehicles. it was a recall on the catalytic converter overheating. i need to get my car fix.…”
2017-07-05 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“brakes locked up and subframe snapped while driving. found out recently that there was a recall on my car. …”
2017-05-09 · Seats · 211,186 mi · 💥 crash“my husband was in an accident and over corrected hit an embankment and a tree and this pushed him back into the road and spin shooting him into another embankment and this resulted in him being forced backwards and into another ditch on the other side of the road hitting a mailbox and another ditch. the airbag never deployed and the seat broke as i…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.