74 of the
1,139 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Lancer
are about the electrical system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after a while the system would erase any safety information used to track mileage and only show the GPS feature on the digital screen with information from 2004. The contact stated he used the digital screen for the safety features. Upon further inspection, the battery would be drained at an abnormal rate while using the Bluetooth features, and the Bluetooth would not work outside of the local dealer parking lot. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the digital screen and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #11611449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights turned off and turned on independently, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V232000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11536104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the vehicle the headlights will turn off at random intervals. The passenger side rear tail light is out and remains out despite changing the bulb. Water leaks through a gap in the body into the light and the trunk. Headlights need to be reliable in order to ensure safety and visibility, especially at night and during inclement weather. My father is a retired auto mechanic and has been doing his best to troubleshoot the problem. I am experiencing financial hardship at the moment and I cannot afford to bring my vehicle anywhere that would charge. There are no warnings, the lights just stop working periodically and the tail light stopped working about a week ago.
NHTSA complaint #11494649 — 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.
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 50 MPH, the RPM increased from 2,000 to 5,000. Additionally, speedometer became inoperable, he brake was not working as designed, and the Service Transmission message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V609000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11482208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My brake light are no longer working and it is not because of a bulb I replaced all of them and they still do not work. And also my cruise control turns on and off but it will not set a speed
NHTSA complaint #11477444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated he was not sure if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to safely pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched the failure and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V609000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #11457333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after the vehicle had sat for over five days undriven, the vehicle had to be jump started. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the Bluetooth connection module was draining the battery and that the module needed to be removed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11448035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SRS LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID IT WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND IS ONLY TO REMOVE THE LIGHT...BUT THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD STILL DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE WERE REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS) BUT IT PUSHED US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US (WHICH SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS). SEEING AS THIS LIGHT JUST CAME ON WAY BEFORE ANY ACCIDENTS AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANYTHING WE DID, I BELIEVE IT TO BE FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING. YET, MITSUBISHI HAS NEVER BEEN PUSHED TO MAKE THEIR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FLAW INTO A SAFETY RECALL AND EXPECTS TO JUST MAKE MONEY OFF MITUBISHI OWNERS COMING IN TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #11363572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING, BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE STILL OPERATING. THE CAR FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE ECU, PART NUMBER 8637C096 IS WHAT IS IN MY VEHICLE. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR A 2009 LANCER, SR-15-002, FOR THE ECU BUT BECAUSE OF THE PART NUMBER (8637A826) DIFFERENCE THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE MY ECU THAT IS FAULTY. UPON FURTHER PERSONAL INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THE ECU FOR LANCERS;10091781, 10158957, 10142736, 10117850, 10158956, 10158955, 10142736, 10158957. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS HAVE REPORTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THAT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE. (HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/MITSUBISHI/LANCER/2009/ELECTRICAL/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM.SHTML) PART NUMBERS ARE "NOT TYPICALLY GIVEN OUT" I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2020. THE REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER I WAS GIVEN WOULD BE 8637C496. HOWEVER, THIS PART MUST BE PROGRAMMED BY A LISCENED DEALER....THIS MONOPOLY OF PARTS, REFUSAL TO GIVE OUT PART IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS, AND EXTREME COST (OF THE PART ~$870) HAS CAUSED PEOPLE TO BE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR WHILE THE MANUFACTURE IS ESSENTIALLY NOT COVERING THE COST OF THE SAFETY CONCERN AND PUTS THE COST OF REPAIR ON THE CONSUMER.. OR THE VEHICLE CANNOT PASS INSPECTION AND THEREFOR CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE IN SERVICE. I WILL NOT OWN ANOTHER MITSUBISHI BECAUSE OF THIS. MY HUSBAND PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND ALL SAFETY RECALLS, SERVICE, AND EVEN TIRE ROTATIONS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED ON THIS CAR. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS COMPLETED, AND I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP TO RETURN HOME THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER MY CAR WAS PARKED AND THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AT THIS TIME MY 2009 LANCER IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THE PART TO REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #11361090 — 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.
CAR WAS PARKED ON THE PARKING SPOT IN THE EVENING. NEXT MORNING CAR DID NOT START FOR NO REASON. ETAC ECU FAILURE CAUSED A RETURN SIGNAL TO BE BLOCKED ON A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL WIRE. ALSO WHAT WAS FOUND LATER AFTER A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL WIRE CONNECTIONS CLEAN UP, THAT A COOLING FAN STARTED TO RUN CONTINUOUSLY ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #11283069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I ACCELERATE THE CAR STALLS.AND THEN IT JERKS WHEN YOU DO ACCELERATE AND THIS MORNING IT STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AND I ALMOST GOT HIT I HAVE CONTACTED THE USED CAR LOT THAT I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS AND I'VE CALLED IN 24 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IT'S DANGEROUS.IN THIS HAPPENS IN SUBDIVISIONS IT HAPPENS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS ON THE HIGHWAY EVERY TIME YOU GO TO ACCELERATE THE CAR JERKS AND THEN ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL OUT AND THEN THIS MORNING.
NHTSA complaint #11254047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I SMELL FUEL IN MY CAR FAIRLY OFTEN, ALSO I HAVE A RECALL ON MY CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I RAN CODES AND THEY ALL POINT BACK TO AN ISSUE WITH TH COMPUTER. WHEN I'M DRIVING IT WILL JUST START SMELLING LIKE FUEL. I AM USUALLY ON A CITY STREET OR FREEWAY. THE LAST THING TO HAPPEN TO ME IS THE CAR DROVE LIKE IT WANTED TO START AND STOP, I WAS ON A STREET TURNING TO THE NEXT ONE. THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED POPPED ON.I TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN OFF AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11243385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SIGNAL LIGHTS STOP WORKING ALSO THE HAZARDS. THE HORN REMAINS ON. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT IS A PROBLEM OF THE CAR INSIDE BODY THAT TAKE THE CONNECTOR OF THE JUNCTION BLOCK AND CORRODE THEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #11216924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ECU IS BAD AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING THERE IS MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS AN ISSUE AND WANT NEAR 1000 $ TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD THE LIGHT TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIME CAUSING MY WIFE TO PANIC AND CAUSING ALARM THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT
NHTSA complaint #11162622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MITSUBISHI THAT HAS DONE THIS. MY EX'S 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE ALSO HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER. I NEED TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING.
NHTSA complaint #11153665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN 2015 MY 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER DID NOT PASS CA STATE SMOG. MY LOCAL MECHANIC DID THE NECESSARY TESTS AS DIRECTED BY THE LOCAL STATE REFEREE, THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE 02 SENSOR. ENDED UP BEING DIRECTED BY REFEREE TO MITSUBISHI OF EL CAJON AND PAID $125.00 FOR THEM TO TEST IT. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEN WAS TOLD TO MAKE APPT WITH THE REFEREE ON YET ANOTHER DAY FOR THEM TO TEST IT AND ENDED UP RECEIVING A 2YR PASS BECAUSE THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT COMPLETE RUN TEST. REPORT STATES: FAILED DUE TO VEHICLE OBD SYSTEM HAS NOT SET THE READINESS MONITOR(S). I DID NIT HAVE TJE MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE IN 2015 SO HAD TO KEEP IT PARKED UNTIL NOV 2016 FROM WHICH POINT THE ABOVE WAS DONE. NOW ITS 2YRS LATER IT'S STILL NOT PASSING. REFEREE HAS ONCE AGAIN REFERRED ME TO MITS MOTORS, NOTING THAT RECENTLY ALL OTHER TYPES OF MITS MODELS WITH SAME ISSUE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED AND THAT THEY WILL NOT ISSUE ANOTHER PASS TO ME EVEN THO MY CAR WASN'T ON A RECALL LIST THAT BECAUSE SO MANY OF MITS MODELS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE, THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. MITS STATES THAT TODAY, ON THIS DAY OF OCT. 8TH 2018 THAT I MUST STILL PAY ANOTHER $125.00 FOR INSPECTION. IF AND ONLY THEY FIND THAT THIS SAME ISSUE FROM ACTUALLY 3YRS AGO IS ON A TBS LIST, THAT ONLY THEN WILL THEY COVER PARTS AND SERVICE. I LIVE ON A VERY TIGHT BUDGET AND HAD TO DRIVE CLEAR FROM OCEANSIDE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AGAIN. I FEEL LIKE IM GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND BEING COMPLETELY SWINDLED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP DEALING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE WITH I KEEP MY CAR TOTALLY MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASES AND ALL OIL CHANGES EVERY 3 MONTHS. THIS PROBLEM WAS ON THE THE TSB LIST FOR MANY OF MITSUBISHI'S OTHER MODELS AND THEY WERE DIRECTED BY THE STATE TO FIX THE ISSUES FREE OF CHARGE. BUT IM STILL REQUIRED TO CONTINUE JUMPING THRU HOOPS AND PAYING OUT OF POCKET. WHY? CAR RUNS FINE!
NHTSA complaint #11139030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.