45 of the
1,139 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Lancer
are about the throttle and cruise control —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
45
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
I purchased this car in 2016 brand new from the dealer. Have kept up with its maintenance but in the past couple of months, the car is not taking off. What I mean by that is that the transmission slips and won't allow the car to gain speed there is a delay in the car accelerating. This is the second time that it has happened this year and its very unsafe to use a car this way and its less than 10 years old.
NHTSA complaint #11532803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car started to slow down on its own even when my foot was on the gas it wouldn’t pick up speed over 20mph then it started to over heat, then smoke. It sounded like sparks like from a firecracker and smelt like something was burning to the point I had to pull over and turn the car off so my children and I could get out and breathe. When I restarted it turned on but would not drive when put into gear. I had it towed and the next day I tried again only this time the battery was dead and nothing was left on in the car I couldn’t understand how this happened so I bought a new battery put it in and it started still wouldn’t move though so I gave it a few days went to try again and the new battery was dead like something was draining all the power.
NHTSA complaint #11521960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car started flashing a warning sign and loosing power. When trying to accelerate it stops. Eventually it puts the car into a limp mode and will stall altogether. This happens any long distance trip. My car year and model is not the only Lancer being effected by this computer glitch. It’s very dangerous due to the fact that the cars loosing power while you’re driving. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the middle of the highway it will just stop working. All research I have done points to an error within the computer that tells the car when to cool down the transmission. I have seen many blogs, forums and actually know another Lancer owner who’s model is a 2012 and has the exact same issue. I don’t know why this hasn’t been addressed yet when it’s affecting more than just one Lancer here or there. Bad for the engine bad for the transmission bad for my travel. And the worst part is that any mechanic is unable to detect the issue unless the car is actively coding. I’ve had this car for 3 years now and I feel it’s a big safety concern and needs to looked into. First occurrence was on a trip down to a local lake car stalled on the side of a highway this was in 2018. Now any trip further than over 30 miles or more the car will throw this code it looks like a gear and it has a exclamation point in the middle. It’s progressively getting worse and effecting the over all performance more each time I wish to travel. Please find out why this issue is occurring in multiple years of the same model of car because it inconvenient and dangerous. I would hate for myself and my kids to get killed in an accident due to not being able to get out of the way of a bigger vehicle or a truck.
NHTSA complaint #11485374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR STARTS OUT REALLY SLOW. THERE IS A LOT OF JERKING AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, IT ACTS LIKE IT IS SHIFTED TO L, BUT THEN IT SPEEDS UP. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11404737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS DRIVING IT IT SEEMS TO HESITATE ON ACCELERATING AFTER A FEW STOPS THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A LITTLE BIT THEN GO OFF. SAME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AS I WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY.. IT SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PARK IT AT A GAS STATION WHERE IT WENT COMPLETELY DEAD.. I HAD AAA TOW IT.. IT STARTED UP BUT THE SHIFTING IS NOT ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY. HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATED IN 2019.. THE CVT TRANSMISSION ARE FULL OF PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL BUT MY CAR WAS NOT RECALLED ACCORDING TO THE VIN NUMBER.. I HAD A FLUSH DONE RECENTLY AND I HAVE ALSO HAD THE OIL CHANGED WHEN NEEDED. THE ACCELERATION HESITATION THEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 60 ON THE FREEWAY IS A SAFETY ISSUE... A LOT OF SEMI TRUCKS TRAVEL THAT HIGHWAY AND THEY CANT STOP WHEN A CAR LOSES POWER IN FRONT OF THEM.
NHTSA complaint #11399625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ALL MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X MODELS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AYC ACD PUMPS, THIS AFFECTS THE STABILITY AND THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY IN CASE OF A SLIPPERY OR BAD ROAD. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PUMPS BEGIN WITH IT'S LOCATION BECAUSE IT RECEIVES DIRT,WATER, SNOW AND OTHER ELEMENTS THAT HARM THE PUMP. THIS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FROM MITSUBISHI BECAUSE IT FAILED DUE TO A BAD DESIGN AND LOCATION OF IT AND IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR DRIVERS SPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, I WILL LIKE THIS CONCERN COULD BE TAKEN IN CONSIDERATION FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION OWNERS, THANKS
NHTSA complaint #11397295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAVING NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS CAN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MINUTES ON THE FREEWAY OR ELSE MY CAR STARTS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AND LOSES POWER SHIFTING AT HIGH RPMS
NHTSA complaint #11373055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11286324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL CARRO CUANDO VA SUBIENDO CUESTA LARGAS NO ACCELERA SE QUEDA SIN FUERZA Y DICE QUE BAJE LA VELOCIDAD SI EL SOLO LO BAJA Y NO PERMITE ACCELERAL Y EL MOTOR TIENE UN RUIDO QUENO ES NORMAL NI LO HACIA ANTES
NHTSA complaint #11151089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CVT TRANSMISSION; VEHICLE HAS 45K MILES, NO RECALL WAS RECORDED FOR MY VIN BUT I CLEARLY EXPERIENCE THE STATED SYMPTOMS OF THE COMMUNICATION LOSS BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A BRIEF "HESITATION " FAILURE TO MOVE. WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS THERE IS ALSO "HESITATION ". MY LAST CONCERN UNMENTIONED BY THE MANUFACTURER IS THE CONSTANT OVER-HEATING OF THE CVT TRANSMISSION. IN MANY FORUMS AROUND THE WORLD IT'S A CONSTANT ISSUE, THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO REPAIR WITH AFTERMARKET ADD ON TRANSMISSION COOLERS, FLUID CHANGES, ETC. MOST HIGHWAYS AROUND MY HOME REQUIRE 70MPH SPEED LIMITS, I TRAVEL 50 MILES FOR WORK EACH DAY, THE OVER-HEATING HAS COST ME TIME AND MONEY AND LOCAL DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO CONSIDER THE WORK WARRANTY. IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT IN DESIGN AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED VIA MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #11019040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #10914452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE BLOWER FAILED AND THE FRONT WIND SHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFROSTED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD FLUCTUATE AND THE ENGINE WOULD APPEAR TO BE STALLING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY FROM A STANDING START. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10864319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHEN I DRIVE MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES AT 20 MPH AND 40 MPH AND WANT TO INCREASE THE SPEED AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPM OF THE CAR WILL INCREASE AND THE SPEED OF THE CAR WILL DECREASE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SPEED WILL INCREASE AS IF THE GEARS IN THE AUTO TRANSMISSION JUST ENGAGED. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT
NHTSA complaint #10745685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS CAR KEEPS IDLING HIGH WHEN IT EITHER GETS WARM OUT OR IF I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER CANNOT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE SHE ALMOST CRASHED. EVERY SUMMER I WORRY ABOUT BEING AT A STOP SIGN AND WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAK THE CAR IS TRYING TO DRIVE. THERE IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IF YOU GOOGLE IT MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT COME UP ASKING FOR HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10712290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I WAS IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY INTERVENTION, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FURTHER. I HAD TO APPLIED THE MANUAL BRAKE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. IN NEUTRAL THE RPMS WENT TO THE MAXIMUM AND THEN DECREASED TO NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #10676376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS GOING TO THE GAS STATION TO GET GAS AND CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THEN ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING THEN. RAN INTO A DITCH. CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM ENGINE. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESE CARS OR I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT ONE. BIGGEST PAIN I'VE EVER OWNED! THE ENGINE IS WRECKED. I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR. I HAVE NO CAR NOW, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
NHTSA complaint #10622408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA complaint #10619075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.