2003 Mitsubishi Lancer other reported problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The front subframe on the drivers side of the vehicle broke while maneuvering a right turn at a safe speed. This incident caused additional damage to the vehicle, with noticeable damage to the quarter panel. Additional damage is expected and may include the tie rod, wheel bearing, struts, sway bar link, etc. The driver and passenger were put at risk due to the severity of the break and the inability to move the vehicle. The speed of the vehicle may have prevented further risk to the driver and passenger at the time of the incident. The issue with the subframe was confirmed by an independent service center due to the lack of a Mitsubishi dealer is proximity. However, a Mitsubishi dealer was contacted but no response was received. It is believed that this issue is associated with the discovered Unrepaired Recalls associated with this VIN. A police officer arrived at the incident and a tow truck was ordered by the officer due to the danger of remaining in the location of the incident. The issue with the subframe first appeared on Sunday, May 31st 2026 with a noise produced by the vehicle while driving on unsmooth roads and through turns. The vehicle was inspected by an independent service center on Thursday, June 4th 2026 and significant erosion was discovered on the front subframe. A Mitsubishi dealer was contacted on Friday, June 5th 2026 and a voicemail was left. No contact was received. The incident occurred on Saturday, June 6th 2026. The vehicle and associated parts are available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA complaint #11742724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB BROKE OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE ARM INSIDE CAN BE TURNED WITH A NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS, BUT ONLY TOWARDS THE COLD/AC SIDE. IT STOPS WHEN TURNED TOWARDS THE HEAT SIDE AND WILL NOT GO- FEELS AS THOUGH IT COULD BREAK IF IT WAS FORCED. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING AS IT IS ABOUT TO BE WINTER IN MINNESOTA AND WITH NO HEAT, THERE IS NO DEFROSTER FOR WINDSHIELD OR REAR WINDOW. I AM VERY WORRIED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2003 LANCER, I FOUND OUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND I AM LEAD TO BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHI'S DESIGN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. IF I DO NOT HAVE A DEFROSTER I AM IN DANGER AND I AM VERY WORRIED. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE IN THIS STATE TO NOT HAVE HEAT. TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW -10F DEGREES EVERY YEAR AND OFTEN AS LOW AS -30F. I AM CALLING ON THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE NHTSA FOR HELP. WINTER IS COMING AND I NEED MY DEFROSTER. PLEASE HELP ME.

NHTSA complaint #11138804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #11053604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO DEIVE THE CAR! I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE BASICALLY BEEN INCORPORATED TO HELPING FIX THE RECALL!!!! I DO NOTBDRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I LOOSE CONTROL OF IT

NHTSA complaint #10969322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE TEMPERATURE KNOB BROKE EASILY BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO TURN MAKING THE DEFROSTER IMPOSSIBLE TO USE WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHERMORE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ALWAYS FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH BUT NOW IT ISN'T EVEN USABLE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALSO LOVES TO LURCH INTO 3RD GEAR WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT THE SAME TIME AND THEN JUMPING BACK INTO THE SPEED I WAS PREVIOUSLY GOING. THIS ISSUE USUALLY HAPPENS AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 50 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10822669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

HEATER/AC KNOB BROKE OFF, UNABLE TO SWITCH TO HEAT, KNOB HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, INVESTIGATING PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON EVENT WITH MITSUBISHI VEHICLES DURING THIS RELEASE. WONDERING IF MITSUBISHI HAS ISSUED A RECALL TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. HAVE FOUND ITS GOING TO BE VERY PRICEY TO FIX, LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME AND UNABLE TO AFFORD THE FIX. HAVE HAD THE CAR 14 YEARS BOUGHT IT IN 2002 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR NOT READY TO GIVE IT UP...

NHTSA complaint #10654256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE HEATING/ COOLING KNOB WILL NOT TURN TO HEAT. DEFROST IS MINIMAL, WHICH OBSTRUCTS VIEW WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. HEAT IN CAR IS ABSENT, REQUIRING BLANKET TO BE USED TO KEEP DRIVER WARM IN COLD CHICAGO WINTERS. KNOB MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A MECHANICAL DESIGN ERROR. MATERIALS INVOLVED ARE PLASTIC AND METAL. WITHOUT HEAT FOR DEFROSTING AND MAINTAINING A COMFORTABLE CABIN TEMPERATURE, DRIVING SAFETY IS COMPROMISED. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL, THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10417648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

(1) THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL ON MY 2003 LANCER ES WAS ALWAYS A BIT HARD TO MOVE. 2) NOW THE SWITCH HAS GOTTEN SO HARD TO CONTROL THAT IT FEELS ALMOST AS IF IT DOES NOT WORK WHEN YOU FINALLY PLACE IT IN THE RIGHT POSITION. 3) I TOOK IT INTO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP MAYWOOD MITSUBISHI, NJ WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME 700 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE A RECALL. I KNOW FOR A FACT THE LANCER FROM 02-04 HAS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. MITSUBISHI DOES NOT RESUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY SWITCHES. THIS GOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH THEY "BACK" THEIR PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10185726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED TWO THINGS, ONE THAT IS TROUBLESOME AND THE OTHER A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE. ONE DAY AFTER STEPPING OUT OF MY VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITH THE A/C ON I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING SOUND EVERY TIME THE A/C KICKED ON. I TOOK IT INTO A DEALERSHIP WHILE I WAS HAVING THEM CHECK MY TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB (THE OTHER PROBLEM) AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT. THEY JUST PUT GREASE ON THE KNOB AND TOLD ME THAT THE A/C IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE THAT. WELL, JUST THIS LAST FALL MY A/C COMPRESSOR (I THINK IT IS THE COMPRESSOR) BLEW OUT AND STARTED SMOKING. I THOUGHT THAT THE FREON WAS EMPTY BUT IT IS NOT. IS THIS LEGITIMATE FOR A COMPLAINT?

NHTSA complaint #10184871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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!

NHTSA complaint #10173593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ANY RECALLS INVOLVING 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. MR

NHTSA complaint #10014904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PROBLEMS WITH 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER.*MR

NHTSA complaint #10082174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PAINT SWIRLS AND SCRATCHES EASILY. CAR HAS LESS THAN 1500 MILES AND HAS ALREADY ACQUIRED SEVERAL SCRATCHES IN PAINT. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10021462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PAINT CHIPS AND CRACKS EASILY; TREE SAP AND BIRD DROPPINGS EAT THROUGH PAINT EVEN IF WASHED OFF WITHIN A FEW HOURS; THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 6-MONTH OLD VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10014246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.