Mitsubishi

Lancer (9th)

2008-2017 · Compact Sedan ยท 1 engine
Best Engine โŒ Avoid (1.7)
454 NHTSA Complaints
10 Recalls
10 Fire Reports
39 Crash Reports
View all 2 generations of the Mitsubishi Lancer → ๐Ÿ“‹ Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 4/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No
Overall Not Rated
Frontal Crash
โ€”
Side Crash
โ€”
Rollover
4/5 (12.1% risk)
ESC: Optional FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

Mitsubishi Lancer Unidentified Engine

โŒ Avoid (1.7)
454 complaints 45.4 per year
10 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
133
engine
102
electrical
71
brakes
40
suspension
38

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (133 complaints)
Engine Issues (102 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (71 complaints)

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Mitsubishi Lancer regardless of engine variant.

Transmission Issues (133 complaints)
transmission critical
Engine Issues (102 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (71 complaints)
electrical critical
Brakes Issues (40 complaints)
brakes critical
Suspension Issues (38 complaints)
suspension critical

Recalls (10)

20V279000May 17, 2020serious
Structure

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.

18V071000Jan 25, 2018serious
Visibility

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.

18V069000Jan 25, 2018serious
Engine & Cooling

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.

17V609000Sep 28, 2017serious
Electrical System

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. These vehicles may have defective relays that can result in an engine stall, reduced engine power or the engine overheating.

16V563000Jul 27, 2016serious
Powertrain

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles and 2016 Outlander and Lancer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in certain driving conditions, may cause a delay in the vehicle accelerating.

15V232000Apr 19, 2015serious
Electrical System

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be unstable.

15V233000Apr 19, 2015serious
Visibility

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.

14V562000Dec 8, 2014serious
Engine & Cooling

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.

09V077000Oct 2, 2009serious
Service Brakes, Air

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.

09V435000May 10, 2009serious
Air Bags

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.

Alternatives in Compact Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?

The 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer has accumulated 454 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Transmission, Engine, Electrical System. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Mitsubishi Lancer engine is most reliable?

The 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer was offered with 1 engine option. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mitsubishi Lancer Unidentified Engine has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer a good used car?

The 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 454 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

The 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer has 454 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer?

There are 10 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN โ€” check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Mitsubishi Lancer?

Before buying a used Mitsubishi Lancer, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Transmission, Engine, Electrical System, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Lancer?

The 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer received an overall 4-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 4 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (12.1% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: No. Lane Departure Warning: No. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 454 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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