Suspension. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Suspension complaints

23 reports

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10,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008

SuspensionTires

CAR CONSTANTLY PULLS TO LEFT, EVEN AFTER REPEAT ALIGNMENTS BY DEALER. HAS BEEN SERVICES 3 TIMES WITHIN 9 MONTHS. NO IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. FRONT TIRES ARE NOW GOING BALD AFTER 10,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238785

100 miles · Feb 11, 2008

SteeringSuspension

MY 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER PULLS TO THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING, BRAKING OR COASTING ON BOTH CROWNED AND UNCROWNED ROADS. IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON INTERNET WEB FORUMS FOR LANCER ENTHUSIASTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217765

35 miles · Sep 20, 2007

Suspension

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I BOUGHT THE 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES A FEW WEEKS AGO. EVERY TIME I BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE FRONT END OF THE CAR 'BOTTOMS OUT" AND SCRAPES ALONG THE PAVEMENT. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO MARK MITSUBISHI. THEY CHECKED OUT MY CAR AND ALTHOUGH THEY ADMITTED THAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SCRAPED UP THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID EVERYTHING "SPEC'D" OUT JUST LIKE THE OTHER NEW CARS ON THE LOT. I ASKED IF THE MORE EXPENSIVE VERSIONS OF THE 2008 LANCER HAD A ?BEEFED UP? SUSPENSION AND WAS TOLD; ? NO ALL 2008 LANCER?S HAD THE SAME SUSPENSION.? I HAVE SINCE LEARNED, FROM A REVIEW OF THE CAR ON AUTO MALL USA THAT THE GTS MODEL HAS ?FIRMER COIL SPRINGS, SHOCK ABSORBERS AND BUSHINGS AND LARGER STABILIZER BARS THAN THE DE AND ES MODELS.? I TOOK THE SERVICE MANAGER, NATHAN BOISVERT, FOR A TEST DRIVE AND BACKING OUT OF ANY NEARBY DRIVEWAY, EVEN AT 1 MILE PER HOUR THE CAR "BOTTOMED OUT" AS THE FRONT TIRES ROLLED OVER THE VERY SMALL GUTTER THAT IS COMMON IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN ARIZONA. HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THE DEALER COULD DO OTHER THAN REPORT THIS TO MITSUBISHI SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY "TECH BULLETINS" ON THIS ISSUE. RATHER THAN ADMIT THIS WAS A DESIGN DEFECT HE TOLD ME THIS WAS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE CAR. HE SUGGESTED I TURN THE WHEEL AND BACK OUT AT A 45% ANGLE SO ONLY ONE WHEEL AT A TIME WOULD GO OVER THE GUTTER AND THEREBY AVOID "BOTTOMING OUT." I CALLED MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND OPENED A CASE [# 1-221800146]. THEY CALLED ME BACK A DAY LATER AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. IN THE MEANTIME I CHECKED WITH NATHAN AND HE TOOK ANOTHER NEW 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER FROM THE LOT AND IT DOES THE SAME THING. ALL I WANTED WAS TO HAVE IT FIXED. FROM MY VIEWPOINT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE SUSPENSION IS NOT STIFF ENOUGH. I WOULD THINK THAT MITSUBISHI WOULD WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECOMES A MAJOR RECALL BUT APPARENTLY THEY HAVE THERE HEADS IN THE SAND. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10203502

Official recalls

20V279000 · Structure:frame And Members; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

May 18, 2020

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 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 a loss of vehicle control, 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure:frame And Members

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

18V071000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Jan 26, 2018

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.

14V562000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

Sep 12, 2014

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.

09V435000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 5, 2009

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER AND LANCER EVOLUTION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF 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 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE HEAVY ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, A LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO A MIXTURE OF MELTED SNOW WITH SALT THROWN UP BY THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD MAY CAUSE A WATER-SALT MIXTURE TO ADHERE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COATING OVER TIME MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE SENSOR. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH OF THE TYPE THAT WOULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS THIS TYPE OF SHORT-CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE A DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WHICH COULD RESULT IN DRIVER OR PASSENGER INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS THAT HAVE IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AT 1-888-648-7820.

09V077000 · Service Brakes, Air:supply:check Valve

Mar 10, 2009

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 39,711 MY 2008-2009 OUTLANDER AND LACER VEHICLES. INCORRECT MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE MAY CAUSE THE CHECK VALVE TO STICK CLOSED WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RE-STARTED AND PUT INTO MOTION, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS (VERY SLOW VEHICLE MANEUVERS), THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT INITIAL BRAKING ASSIST.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY TEMPORARILY INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.