Worst years for a Mitsubishi Lancer
Owners have filed 1,139 complaints about the Mitsubishi Lancer with NHTSA across model years 1996 to 2017. More of them are about the transmission & drivetrain than anything else.
Avoid
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer194 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly windows, mirrors & wipers.
Cleanest on record
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer40 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.
Every Mitsubishi Lancer year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | — | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 2016 | B | 40 | 1 | 0 | 60,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2015 | D | 36 | 9 | 0 | 5,000 | Electrical System |
| 2014 | C | 23 | 7 | 4 | 57,500 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2013 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | 83,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2012 | C | 26 | 7 | 0 | 55,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2011 | C | 51 | 3 | 0 | 58,250 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2010 | C | 66 | 7 | 1 | 70,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2009 | D | 139 | 23 | 4 | 70,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2008 | D | 126 | 12 | 2 | 33,000 | Suspension |
| 2007 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 2006 | C | 52 | 10 | 0 | 99,000 | Airbags |
| 2005 | C | 27 | 3 | 0 | 85,000 | Airbags |
| 2004 | D | 96 | 8 | 5 | 60,000 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 2003 | F | 242 | 17 | 2 | 52,500 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 2002 | F | 194 | 47 | 1 | 64,500 | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| 2000 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Child Seats |
| 1996 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
What breaks on a Mitsubishi Lancer
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Worst in 2002
Exactly what failed on a Mitsubishi Lancer
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every Mitsubishi Lancer, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Mitsubishi Lancer problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the Mitsubishi Lancer
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.