2003 Mitsubishi Lancer

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2005· POWER TRAIN

  EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR 2 YEARS AGO IT HAS SPUTTERED AND JERKED BUT AT FIRST NOT THAT BAD. THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN THE WORST. IT STAYS REVVED UP AND THEN IT WILL KICK INTO GEAR. FINALLY CHRISTMAS EVE IT BROKE DOWN. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT IS A HAIR LINE CRACK ABOUT 2 INCHES LONG ON THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING. SURE ENOUGH THERE IS AND I HAVE A DEAD CAR. *JB

• 12/30/2003· POWER TRAIN

  MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION CLUTCH HAS BEEN MAKING LOUD SQUEELING NOISES SINCE 4000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 8300 MILES ON IT AND IS GETTING WORSE. THE OTHER DAY I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE, (CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED AND IN 1ST GEAR) AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 6 INCHES BEFORE THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED!

• 12/29/2003· POWER TRAIN

  IN AUGUST, 2003, MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION VIII CLUTCH FAILED WITH ONLY 5000 MILES ON IT. DEALER DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE AS "WEAR ITEM". ARBITRATION FAILED TO PRODUCE A FAVORABLE RESULT, ALTHOUGH SERVICE WRITER STATED "IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ABUSE" AND AFADAVIT FROM ASE MASTER MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE NO ABUSE INVOLVED.*AK

• 12/28/2007· STRUCTURE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP COAT OF CLEAR PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND HOOD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

• 12/26/2004· POWER TRAINCrash

  I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER LS, FRM THE MMSA CO. USED PARKING LOT, WITH ONLY A 100 MILES. CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE, AND THEN IT STARTED TO RANDOMLY REVV AND THEM STALL. IT WASNT THAT BAD AT FIRST, BUT 06/04 IT BECAME A PROBLEM. ID STALL ABOUT 8-12 X A DAY (AVG.), ID TAKEN IT TO THE MITSU DEALERS WHO ALL SAID: THEY FIXED IT, COULDNT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, OR THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, I STARTED TO BRAKE AND THEN REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER TO MY CAR- IT HAD STALLED IN MOTION. ALL LIGHTS WERE ON ON DASHBOARD AND THE LENGHT BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER CAR WAS INEVITABLE. EVEN WHEN I HAD TAKEN IT TO A DEALER ONLY 4 DAYS BEFORE WHO SAID THEY FIXED IT. I ENDED UP TOTALLY MY CAR AND RECIEVED MANY INJURIES, AND MITSUBISHI DIDNT EVEN HELP ME. AT THE TIME OF MY CRASH I HAD JUST HIT 10000 MILES- I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH A BRAND NEW (BASICALLY) CAR.*AK

• 12/24/2004· POWER TRAIN

  PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. *AK

• 12/21/2004· VISIBILITY,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION . THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ALSO WAS AT A LOSS FOR AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS DEFECT OCCURRED. *AK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK, THE HEATER CONTROLS WOULD BIND UP WHEN TURNED ON AND AT TIMES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. *SC *JB

• 12/21/2003· POWER TRAIN

  MITSU HQ HAS CIRCULATED A SERVICE ADVISORY TO DEALERS TO CONSIDER "ANY MODIFICATION TO VEHICLE FOR POSSIBLE PERIPHERAL RELATIONSHIP TO ANY FAILURE." VERBALLY, SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE SAYING THAT THE TOTAL CAR WARRANTY IS VOIDED BY ADDITION OF ANY AFTERMARKET MODIFICATION. ADDITION OF A-M STEREO IS CONSIDERED GOOD CAUSE TO VOID ENGINE WARRANTY -- COMPLETE CAR WARRANTY. AND THAT THIS ADVISORY IS BEING PROVIDED IN WRITING TO DEALERS. I OBTAINED A COPY. THE ADVISORY DID NOT STATE "DIRECTLY RELATED" WHICH WOULD MAKE SENSE, BUT ALLOWED FOR WARRANTY CANCELLATION DUE TO "PERIPHERALLY RELATED" WHICH IS ANYBODY'S GUESS. SUGGEST THAT THIS VIOLATES THE MAGNUSSON ACT, AND THIS PRACTICE BY MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. CHANGING A CATBACK EXHAUST SYSTEM SEEMS UNRELATED TO A CLUTCH FAILURE, YET OWNERS ARE GETTING WARRANTY REJECTIONS FOR SUCH MINOR MODIFICATIONS. THANK YOU

• 12/19/2009· VISIBILITY

  2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. I CAN'T TURN THE HEAT ON. WHEN I TURN THE KNOB FROM COLD TO HOT THERE IS A LOT OF TENSION AND I'VE ALREADY BROKEN ONE KNOB TRYING TO FORCE IT TO TURN THE HEATER ON WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE HEAT ON IS TO LOOK FOR A LEVER TO THE RIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL AND MANUALLY TURN THE HEAT ON. THIS IS NOT SAFE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WON'T DEFROST IF THE HEATER ISN'T ON. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

• 12/19/2004· POWER TRAIN

  MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION CLUTCH FAILURE, I BOUGHT A 2003 LANCER EVOLUTION 8, I HAD IT FOR LESS THEN 5000 MILES BEFORE THE CLUTCH STARTED TO WEAR DOWN, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY WORK, THEY ACCEPTED THE WARRANTY WORK, ADDING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE CHARGED ME 1500$ FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS ABUSE, NOW THE CAR IS AT 10,000 MILES DOING THE SAME THING, I USE THIS CAR TO GO TO AND FROM WORK ONLY, SINCE I HAVE TWO CARS, NOW THEY WONT EVEN TAKE MY CALLS, IF I MENTION LANCER EVOLUTION CLUTCH TO ANY MITSUBISHI WARRANTY DEPARTMENT, THEY CUT ME OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE AND SAY"THE CLUTCH WEAR IS CAUSED BY ABUSE, SIR THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH IT IS YOUR FAULT!" THEN PROCEED TO HANG UP ON ME. IM TIRED OF THIS, AND IM NOT GOING TO PAY UP TO 1900 FOR A PROBLEM THEY CAUSED. MY CAR IS NOW IN OPERABLE! 3 DAYS AFTER THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING! *JB

• 12/17/2005· POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH FAILED AT 16K MILES AFTER 18 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER OFFERED TO EXAMINE IT FOR POSSIBLE WARRANTY COVERAGE, BUT BECAUSE OF PARTICIPATION IN AUTOCROSS EVENTS, THE WARRANTY CLAIM WOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED. HOWEVER, AUTOCROSSING DID NOT CONTRIBUTE ANY SIGNIFICANT WEAR TO THE CLUTCH ANY MORE SO THAN NORMAL EVERY DAY DRIVING. AS A 25 YEAR, SEASONED DRIVER OF MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THIS WAS THE FIRST CLUTCH I'VE EVER HAD FAIL ON A VEHICLE. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM OTHER EVO OWNERS, VIA THE EVOLUTIONM.NET WEB SITE, I REPLACED THE CLUTCH WITH A NON-STOCK CLUTCH DUE TO THE INHERENT WEAKNESS OF THE STOCK PART. *NM

• 12/16/2024· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  Need to correct manufacture recalls. Car has 262000 miles. Actual owner in my family. Want to correct issues before accident happens. I have very poor vision when driving because of car head lights being foggy.

• 12/14/2010· VISIBILITY

  THE HEAT/AC KNOB ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS WHEN TRYING TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. I'VE REPORTED THE ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES TO MITSUBISHI AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE MORE I RESEARCH, THE MORE I FIND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR OTHERS. THIS KNOB HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO USE FROM DAY ONE. *TR

• 12/13/2004· POWER TRAIN

  THE CLUTCH IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION FAILED HAVING 2995 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD 600 MILES ON IT WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. WE HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALER AT A COST OF $950. THEY PAID FOR 20% OF THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO BEING SOLD.

• 12/12/2010· VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  MITSUBISHI 2003 HEATING KNOB IS NOT WORKING.. *TR

• 12/12/2008· POWER TRAIN

  2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. LOUD GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. CARS UNDER 8 THOUSAND MILES HAVING TO REPLACE CLUTCHES AND TRANSMISSIONS. GEARS POPPING INTO NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP ACCEPTED WARRANTY AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE CAR. CAR WAS RETURNED A 2ND TIME TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN. *TR

• 12/12/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  ALL THREE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. 1. NORMAL DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK, UNSURE OF ANYTHING LEADING UP TO FAILURE. WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WAS BEHIND ME WHILE DRIVING AND THEN PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AT A LIGHT. WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO CRASH. 2. LIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY OUT, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM BACK ON 3. HAVE CHECKED THE FUSE AS LABELED IN THE MANUFACTURERS HANDBOOK, CHECKED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, CHECKED THE LIGHT BULBS, ALL ARE IN OK FASHION AND WORK WHEN TESTED SEPARATELY. *TR

• 12/11/2012· VISIBILITY/WIPER

  THE HEAT/AC KNOB ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS WHEN TRYING TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. IT NOW DOES NOT TURN ANY MORE AND I DO NOT WANT TO FORCE IT BECAUSE I AM AFRAID IT WILL BREAK. BECAUSE OF THIS I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY CAR AND MY WINDOWS FOG UP MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1400 - $1500 TO FIX. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL AND REPAIRED FOR FREE. *TR

• 12/11/2009· VISIBILITY

  CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB BROKE OFF ON MITSUBISHI ,FOUND TO HAPPEN ON LOTS OF THESE CARS, CANT DEFROST WINDOW. CANT SEE. SAFETY HAZARD? *TR

• 12/10/2006· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH MY TRANSFER CASE ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION UNEXPLAINABLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD WHINING NOISE, ALTHOUGH ONLY HAVING ROUGHLY 13,500 MILES. AS I PULLED THE CAR OVER I COULD HERE THAT THERE WAS A METALLIC CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE ALSO. TO CORRECT THIS THE TRANSFER CASE WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *NM

• 12/09/2017· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  TAKATA RECALL. ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE THE CONTROL ARM/SUBFRAME IS RUSTED/RUSTING OUT REALLY BAD. THERE IS A WHOLE THE SIZE OF A FIST WHERE THE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE FRAME.

• 12/06/2006· POWER TRAIN

  AFTER ONLY 8057 MILES ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, MY TRANSFER CASE STARTED TO WHINE QUITE BADLY. AFTER READING SOME TECH ARTICLES, I FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE. I ALSO KNOW THAT MITSUBISHI HAS HAD TRANSFER CASE RECALLS IN THE PAST DUE TO THEIR POOR REAR SEAL DESIGN. THE RECALLS WERE BASED OFF OF LAWSUITS AND DEATHS TO INDIVIDUALS DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ALL FOUR WHEELS HAVE LOCKED ON THEM CAUSING CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. BASED ON MITSUBISHI'S TRACK RECORD, AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS UNDER TRANSFER CASE FAILURE, IT IS A NEGLIGENT ACT FOR THEM TO OVERLOOK THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL IS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY! *JB

• 12/05/2010· VISIBILITY

  AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING KNOB WAS HARD TO TURN, UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. NOW I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY VEHICLE AND IT VISUALLY IMPAIRS MY DRIVING WHEN IT IS COLD AND FROSTS UP. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I CAN DO, EXCEPT TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH IT. *TR

• 12/05/2004· POWER TRAIN

  I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION VIII WITH ABOUT 300 MILES ON APRIL 28TH 2004. APPROX. 3 MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP IN SECOND GEAR. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BLOWN. AT THIS TIME I HAD APPOX. 3200 MILES ON MY NEW VEHICLE. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A REPLACEMENT CLUTCH PUT IN AND THAT FOR THEM TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CLUTCH IT WOULD COST $500 FOR THEM TO DROP THE PARTS NEEDED TO CONFIRM THIS PROBLEM, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE I WAS AT TRHE MERCY OF THE DEALERSHIP AND MITSUBISHI'S SUB-PAR REPLACEMENT PART. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL PERFORMANCE SHOP WHERE THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH WITH A MORE DURABLE AND WELL KNOW ACT RACE DICS. IN DOING THE REPAIR ALSO THE FLYWHEEL SEEMED TO BE DAMAGED SO THAT WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THE CAR WAS NOT EVER RACED OR EVER ABUSED OR DRIVEN TO ANY EXTENT OF WEARING PARTS EXCESSIVLY. THIS I FEEL IS KNOWN NEGLIGENCE OF SUB-PAR PARTS USED IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK

• 12/04/2010· VISIBILITY

  THE HEATER CONTROL KNOB IS BROKEN. I CAN'T ROTATE THE KNOB FROM COLD TO HEAT. IT BEGAN GETTING REALLY DIFFICULT TO TURN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, UNTIL I COULD NO LONGER ROTATE IT ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ARE YOU CAN'T SWITCH THE AIR FROM COOL TO WARM IN CASE YOU'RE DRIVING SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT AND NEED TO TURN ON THE HEATER FOR A LITTLE WHILE. YOUR WINDOWS FOG UP. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, OTHER THAN MY MECHANIC MESSED WITH THE CABLE INSIDE AND NOW MY KNOB IS PERMANENTLY STUCK ON HEAT, WHENEVER I TURN THE FAN ON. A NEW PART FROM MITSUBISHI IS OVER $500. ARE THEY GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL? I KNOW THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME SITUATION ON THEIR HANDS. *TR

• 12/04/2007· VISIBILITY

  I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES BRAND-NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP IN THE SUMMER OF THAT YEAR. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, I REALIZED THE TEMPERATURE-CONTROL KNOB WAS STIFF AND WOULD HAVE TO BE FORCED TO SWITCH FROM HEAT TO COOL AND VICE VERSA. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE A SERVICE TECHNICIAN OILED IT. THAT HELPED FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE IT STARTED STICKING AGAIN. BASICALLY, IT WOULD FEEL AS IT THE KNOB WAS STUCK BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FORCED BEYOND THAT POINT. ONCE FORCED, IT WOULD EITHER NOT STICK IN THE MOST EXTREME TEMPERATURE SETTING (I.E. MAX AC OR HIGHEST HEAT SETTING) OR IT WOULD NOT MOVE MUCH AT ALL. IT WOULD OFTEN FEEL AS IF IT WERE ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2005, WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG 2003 LANCER OWNERS. THE SERVICE TECH AT THAT TIME TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $800 TO FIX BUT THAT SO LONG AS THE HEATING AND AC WORKED MOST OF THE TIME, IT WOULD BE SMARTER TO HOLD OFF UNTIL MITSUBISHI ISSUED A RECALL. HE INDICATED THAT A RECALL WAS IMMINENT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HE WAS AWARE OF. THE KNOB ON MY CAR OFFICIALLY BROKE LAST WEEK. THERE IS STILL NO RECALL ON THE PART, BUT A SERVICE TECHNICIAN I SPOKE TO THIS MORNING SAID THAT MITSUBISHI RECENTLY RELEASED A FIX-IT KIT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO HIM, THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT IT WOULD COST $1,000 TO REPAIR, BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. TOTAL ESTIMATED REPAIR TIME IS ABOUT 8 HOURS. IT'S MY BELIEF THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL ON THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB AND COMPANY-PAID REPAIR. *TR

• 12/02/2019· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER CONTROLS KNOBS ON DASHBOARD. DO NOT TURN. CAN'T. ADJUST TEMPERATURE ELECTRICAL CERCUIT IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM HAS LOW VOLTAGE THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE.LIGHT TO CPME ON AND TURN OFF AT RANDOM. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY WEEK IN LUMINS. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS , THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WITHOUT. ME PUSHING. ON THE FOOT PEDEL.. THE SUNROOF MOTER CAME UNATTENDED ON IT OWN.

• 12/02/2014· SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  AIRBAG HORN DOESN'T WORK I CHANGED THE CLOCK SPRING BUT STILL DOESN'T WORK, SUSPENSION IS TERRIBLE I FELL LIKE I AM GOING TO CRASH. THE HEATER ALSO DOESN'T WORK AND THE CONTROL KNOB IS NOT WORKING. *JS

• 12/02/2012· VISIBILITY/WIPER

  HEAT/AC KNOB HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT IS NOW STUCK ON A/C. I AM LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT ACQUIRES FREEZING TEMPERATURES, AND EVIDENTLY, WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE COME ACROSS THOUSANDS OF MITSUBISHI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE MOST OF THE U. S. EXPERIENCES FREEZING TEMPERATURES THIS SHOULD, WITHOUT A DOUBT, BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS AFFECTING SO MANY DRIVER'S VISIBILITIES. THE OTHER SAFETY ASPECT TO BE CONSIDERED PERTAINS YOUNG CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, AND THE ILL. CAR WINDOWS OPEN OR NOT, HOW IS IT SAFE TO HAVE THE YOUNG, ELDERLY, OR ILL IN A CAR OVER 100 DEGREES OR UNDER 32 DEGREES? THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND UNSAFE. PLEASE ADVISE A RECALL. *TR

• 12/01/2016· SUSPENSION

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). 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. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT UPDATED 7/12/18*JB

• 12/01/2012· VISIBILITY

  THE HEAT/AC KNOB ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS WHEN TRYING TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD, UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. NOW I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY VEHICLE AND IT VISUALLY IMPAIRS MY DRIVING WHEN IT IS COLD AND FROSTS UP. I TRIED TO SEARCH FOR PARTS( COMPLETE SWITCH OR SWITCH KNOB SHAFT) THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE BUT WHOLE UNIT ABOUT $300 + LABOR. ARE THEY(MITSUBISHI) GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL? THE MORE I RESEARCH, THE MORE I FIND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS OF OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME SITUATION ON THEIR HANDS. THE MORE I RESEARCH, THE MORE I FIND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR OTHERS. *TR

• 12/01/2010· VISIBILITY

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE KNOB WAS FRACTURED WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE DEFROST, HEAT, AND AIR CONDITIONING TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 11/30/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  SLAVE CYLINDER SUDDENLY WENT OUT. *NM

• 11/30/2004· POWER TRAIN

  2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION WAS PURCHASED NEW 84 DAYS AGO WITH 1200 DEALER TEST DRIVE MILES. CLUTCH FAILED AT 4500 MILES. I HAVE CALLED MITSUBISHI AND THE DEALERSHIP, BOTH REFUSE TO COVER THE CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND MITSUBISHI CONSISTENTLY BLAMES THE CONSUMER. I HAVE NOT MISTREATED THE CAR. THE DEALER DROVE THE CAR HARDER THAN I EVER HAVE WHILE ON THE TEST DRIVE. *AK

• 11/29/2010· VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER HEATER KNOB BROKE OFF AND I AM UNABLE TO GET THE DEFROSTER TO WORK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS THIS IS A MATERIAL DEFECT IN HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF LANCER AUTOMOBILES. PLEASE HELP FORCE MITSUBISHI TO RECALL AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

• 11/28/2016· SUSPENSION

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 11/26/2007· STEERING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE STEERING COLUMN FELL IN THE CONTACT'S LAP WHEN SHE PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE COLUMN FELT LOOSE. SHE WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. TWO WEEKS LATER, BEFORE SHE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, THE STEERING COLUMN FELL COMPLETELY OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IT SEEMED AS IF SOMEONE WAS PULLING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHE FEELS THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,624 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07

• 11/25/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

• 11/24/2007· STEERING

  MY STEERING COLUMN WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE, BUT A MECHANIC ASSURED ME THERE NO PROBLEM. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FELL INTO MY LAP AS I ATTEMPTED TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE COLUMN BACK INTO PLACE AND GET THE CAR ACROSS THE STREET TO A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TOO MANY MILES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND TOLD THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP MY BELIEF. I ALSO ADVISED HIM THAT I HAD HAD CARS THAT WERE TOTALED OUT IN ACCIDENTS AND THE STEERING MECHANISM NEVER FELL OUT. IN ADDITION, I HAD ONE CAR THAT I PUT CLOSE TO 200,000 MILES ON IT, BUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN FALLING OUT. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE REGARDING WEAR AND TEAR AND THE OUT OR WARRANTY SITUATION. *TR

• 11/21/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  2003 LANCER OVERHEATED AND RAN ROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT. MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TS THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE RECALL THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY. *JB

• 11/20/2014· EQUIPMENT

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILED TO SWITCH FROM AIR CONDITIONER TO HEAT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

• 11/20/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  MY CAR WAS/IS SLOW TO ENGAGE GEARS WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE THROTTLE. THE RPMS RISE APPROXIMATELY 1000, THEN SETTLE BACK DOWN AND THE GEAR SLOWLY ENGAGES. THE CLUTCH IS PRETTY MUCH GONE AND I HAVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT RACE, TRACK, OR ABUSE MY CAR. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS. THE CLUTCH WILL BE COMPLETELY GONE VERY SOON AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD! THE MITSUBISHI DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS'T A WARRANTABLE ITEM, AS DID THE WARRANTY HOTLINE, THEREFORE I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. AN ESTIMATE FROM THEM IS APPROXIMATELY $1200. *AK

• 11/19/2009· STRUCTURE

  I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES. THE TEMPERATURE KNOB, WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING HAS NOW BROKEN OFF. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE COME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THIS IS WITH MINIMAL RESEARCH ON MY PART. INITIALLY SWITCHING THE TEMPERATURE KNOB FROM HOT TO COLD WAS DIFFICULT AT BEST. I OFTEN HAD TO REQUEST A GROWN MAN TO HELP ME JUST SO I COULD DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. I DID BRING THE ISSUE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP NEAR MY HOME, WHICH HAS SINCE CLOSED, AND THEY INFORMED ME THE KNOB WOULD NOT BREAK. WELL.....THE KNOB BROKE AND NOW I HAVE TO USE A NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS TO CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND IT BEGINS TO RAIN OR SNOW, ETC. AND YOU NEED TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE YOU CANNOT. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY IN HASTE BECAUSE MY WINDSHIELD IS FOGGING UP AND I NEED TWO HANDS IN ORDER TO SWITCH MY TEMPERATURE KNOB. MITSUBISHI HAS GOT TO BE AWARE OF THIS SINCE APPARENTLY A TECHNICAL REPORT HAD BEEN SENT TO THEIR MECHANICS ADVISING HOW TO FIX THIS PROGRAM. IN ADDITION I HAVE READ MITSUBISHI ACTUALLY HAS A REPAIR KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY FOR THE CAR OWNER THE COST FOR THE TOTAL REPAIR IS $800-$900. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE THAT MITSUBISHI WAS ALLOWED TO SELL CARS IN 2002, 2003, AND 2004 GET AWAY WITH NOT REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM.

• 11/19/2003· POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH FAILED AT 10K000 MILES. CAR WAS NEVER RACED OR ABUSED. COST OF REPAIR $1600.OT COVERED UNDER NEW CAR WARRENTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS LISTED AS A COVERABLE ITEM IN THE WARRENTY BOOK. DEALER DENIED ANY PROBLEM UPON INITIAL INSPECTION. CAR WAS DRIVEN AN APPROX 300 MILES B4 PROBLEM BECAME UNBEARABLE AND DEALER AGREED THAT THERE WAS AN ACTUAL PROBLEM.*AK

• 11/18/2011· VISIBILITY

  A/C HEATER NOB BROKE OFF AFTER SWITCHING IT FROM COLD TO HEAT. *TR

• 11/17/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THERE IS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL, ALL THE TIME. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER 3 PLUS TIMES, AND EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, AND THAT I AM USING CHEAP GAS. THEY SUGGUESTED CHANGING GAS STATIONS. IT STILL SMELLS NO MATTER WHERE I GET THE GAS.*AK

• 11/17/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BRAND NEW MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION BLOWS ENGINE AFTER 6,000 MILES. SAID CUSTOMER NEGLECT BUY CANNOT PROVE IT. *LA

• 11/16/2007· VISIBILITY

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE ADJUSTER KNOB FOR THE DEFROSTER WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND EVENTUALLY FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TEMP CONTROL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A TSB NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10006466. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,200.

• 11/15/2006· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I TURNED THE HOT/COLD DIAL TO HOT ONE WINTER MORNING AND THE CABLE SNAPPED THERE FOR THE HEAT DID NOT WORK ANYMORE. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS, THEY REPLACED THE CABLE $300 LATER IT SNAPPED AGAIN 2 MONTHS LATER. NO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT ITS THE HEATER BOX THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND ITS GOING TO COST ME $2000 TO HAVE IT REPLACE. SO NOW ITS NOVEMBER 15 AND I DON'T HAVE ANY HEAT! *NM

• 11/15/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT

  BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED. I HAVE RETURNED MY '03 DIAMONTE FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIRS AND EACH TIME THEY STATE THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND EITHER REPLACED OR MACHINED THEM. BRAKES ARE NOW VIBRATING AGAIN AND WILL NEED TO BE RETURNED FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. WIND NOISE COMING FORM THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. WINDOW ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE THREE TIMES STILL HAVING NOISE PROBLEMS. RETURNED THREE TIMES TO HAVE LUMBAR SUPPORT SWITCH REPLACED. *AK