← New search

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Lancer years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 27.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Lancer years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

86 reports with mileage · 62 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports1 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

148 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2017
Suspension

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY VEHICLE JANUARY 2017. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT TRANSITTOWNE MITSUBISHI AT 7428 TRANSIT RD. WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. 14221. THEY DO NOT ANSWER THEIR PHONE OR EMAILS.

NHTSA ODI #10957470

228,566 miles · Jan 5, 2017
SteeringStructureSuspension

RECALL INFO: "THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES OF THE FRONT CROSS MEMBERS USED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES IF EXPOSED LONG TERM TO SNOW MELT WATER AND ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS MAY CORRODE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF THE RUST PROTECTION. SHOULD CORROSION OCCUR, A LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD BECOME DETACHED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CO…

Read full complaint

RECALL INFO: "THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES OF THE FRONT CROSS MEMBERS USED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES IF EXPOSED LONG TERM TO SNOW MELT WATER AND ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS MAY CORRODE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF THE RUST PROTECTION. SHOULD CORROSION OCCUR, A LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD BECOME DETACHED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POTENTIAL COLLISION. IN MAY 2016 WE HAD TO HAVE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FRONT SWAY BARK LINK ASSEMBLY." I BELIEVE THIS IS ALL PART OF THE CORROSION MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE RECALL. CAR WAS MOVING WHEN LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED. $285.00 TO REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM & FRONT SWAY BAR LINK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10939837

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2016
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) IN AUGUST. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) IN AUGUST. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928726

110,000 miles · Oct 15, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FROM THE SEAM. MOST OF THE FUEL IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST PIPE. FUEL CAN BE SMELLED ALL AROUND THE VEHICLE AND INSIDE THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #10916246

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RPM'S IDLED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RPM'S IDLED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10903894

100,000 miles · Sep 5, 2016
Unknown Or Other

SLAVE CYLINDER INTERNAL AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE INTERNAL SLAVE CYLINDERS IN THESE MODEL YEARS BEFORE MITSUBISHI REALIZED THEY NEEDED TO MAKE THEM EXTERNAL. HAVING TO REPLACE THEM IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND REQUIRES NEW CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS BECAUSE O…

Read full complaint

SLAVE CYLINDER INTERNAL AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE INTERNAL SLAVE CYLINDERS IN THESE MODEL YEARS BEFORE MITSUBISHI REALIZED THEY NEEDED TO MAKE THEM EXTERNAL. HAVING TO REPLACE THEM IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND REQUIRES NEW CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF THE FLUID THE CYLINDER LEAKS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE IF THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO CONTINUE BUYING THEIR VEHICLES. I FOR ONE WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI BECAUSE THE ONLY RECAP THEY HAVE ACTUALLY SENT ME WAS FOR THE CONTROL ARMS THAT I ALREADY REPLACED ON MY OWN BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY SENT ME THE RECALL THEY ALSO NOTED ON THERE THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR ANY DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT. VERY AGGRAVATED WITH THIS COMPANY AND THINK THEY SHOULD TREAT OWNERS AND OUR SAFETY AS A HIGHER PRIORITY. THIS SLAVE CYLINDER ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR BECAUSE ALL THE FLUID WAS BEING SQUIRTED INTO THE REST OF THE CLUTCH COMPONENTS. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WISHING I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NOW. TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND OUR SAFETY MITSUBISHI OR YOU WILL KEEP LOSING THEM ONE BY ONE. IT IS AN EASY FIX FOR YOU TO RECALL THESE INTERNAL JUNK SLAVE CYLINDERS AND EITHER REPLACE THEM AT THE VERY LEAST OR EVEN CONVERT THEM TO EXTERNAL LIKE YOU DID A YEAR OR TWO AFTER YOU OBVIOUSLY REALIZED YOUR MISTAKE AND BAD IDEA.

NHTSA ODI #10903619

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2016
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISS…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10898959

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2016
SteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10898183

120,000 miles · Jul 14, 2015
Steering

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK ON BUT HAD TO PRESS HARD TO KEEP IT IN PLACE MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REATTACH IT BUT HAD TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG AND NOW COST $700 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN AIR BAG AND HORN. I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KN…

Read full complaint

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK ON BUT HAD TO PRESS HARD TO KEEP IT IN PLACE MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REATTACH IT BUT HAD TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG AND NOW COST $700 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN AIR BAG AND HORN. I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE REGARDING THIS IS THIS SOMETHING BEING REVIEWED OR A RECALL. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #10733820

150,000 miles · Aug 14, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed ControlWheelsCrash

WAS GOING TO THE GAS STATION TO GET GAS AND CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THEN ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING THEN. RAN INTO A DITCH. CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM ENGINE. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESE CARS OR I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT ONE. BIGGEST PAIN I'VE EVER OWNED! THE ENGINE IS WRECKED. I SPENT A LOT OF MON…

Read full complaint

WAS GOING TO THE GAS STATION TO GET GAS AND CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THEN ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING THEN. RAN INTO A DITCH. CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM ENGINE. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESE CARS OR I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT ONE. BIGGEST PAIN I'VE EVER OWNED! THE ENGINE IS WRECKED. I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR. I HAVE NO CAR NOW, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622408

Official recalls

2

16V458000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Jun 23, 2016

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 & remedy

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.

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.