43 of the
1,139 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Lancer
are about the steering —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
The steering column on my 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer ES detached while driving. The entire column dropped down from its mounting brackets, causing loss of control. This is a serious safety hazard. The mount bolts were intact previously, but they came loose or the bracket failed without warning. This could have resulted in a crash and severe injury. I believe this may be a structural or manufacturing defect and could affect other Lancer vehicles of similar year. I performed a temporary repair myself so the vehicle could be moved safely, but this does NOT solve the underlying problem. The original steering column mounting should not have failed under normal use.
NHTSA complaint #11701340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front subframe(cross member) blew out, due to excessive corrosion. Causing the control arm to dismount as well as separation of the CV axle from the transmission, while traveling down the road losing complete steer of the vehicle. Luckily I was coming to a stop sign and not traveling on the highway. My vehicle was last inspected in April of 2023 with no warning signs of there being an issue. I've recently done some research and gathered information regarding models from 08-10 Mitsubishi lancers having the exact same issue. I contacted my dealer about the issue and they stated there are no current recalls on my year vehicle. Although they also started that the part number on my subframe is the same part number that failed on the 09-10 models. There should be a recall on 2012 Mitsubishi lancer subframe(front cross member) I hope this issue is resolved! I was fortunate to not have been injured! My vehicle has not currently been inspected after the accident because I had it towed back to my house after the accident because I was unsure what to do about the situation. The vehicle is available to be towed to be inspected if need be. A police officer did pass me and checked to make sure I was alright while I was stranded in the middle of the road while waiting for a tow truck.
NHTSA complaint #11569336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving down the road and spun out of control because my rack and pinion steering inner and outer tie rod snapped in half, because of rust from salt water and corrosion on the metal, resulting in my loss of control and front passenger wheel turned 90 degrees inward and nearly ripped the front tire off and under the car, brought the car home and inspected it tthoroughly, and saw the immediate problem
NHTSA complaint #11551735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I got a service needed warning for the electric power steering and I lost all power steering... As it turned out, the rack and pinion was bad because the subframe rotted out where the rack and pinion mounts up and a custom built subframe and rack and pinion had to be installed on the car at a cost of almost $5,000...
NHTSA complaint #11484709 — 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.
I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. PARKED AND FOUND ROTTEN PARTS ON TIRE. MECHANIC SAID IT CANNOT BE FIXED. EVERYTHING ROTTED. NEEDS WHOLE NEW FRAME. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.THANK GOD I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. NOW I HAVE NOTHING BUT AN EXISTING CAR LOAN FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #11385384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED AND SPRING RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. HAD REPAIRED IN MARCH OF 2019. SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL. SENT INVOICE AND RECEIPT TO MITSUBISHI HOWEVER THEY ARE SAYING IT DID NOT MEET TIME FRAME FOR REPAIR AND ARE REFUSING TO REFUND ANY OF MY REPAIR COSTS.
NHTSA complaint #11361718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY ABS AND ASC LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WASNT A PROBLEM, JUST A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONE DAY, I WAS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP TRYING TO BRAKE SO I COULD TURN BUT MY BRAKES WOULDNT ENGAGE SO I SLAM ON MY BRAKE AND THEY LOCKED UP AND MY CAR SLID AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. TIRED TO STEER AWAY BUT IT WOULDNT TURN.
NHTSA complaint #11323112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE HAS NO BEEN AN INCIDENT YET. THE VEHICLE RATTLES IN THE FRONT END, EXACTLY WHERE THE RECALLED PART IS AT. I TOOK IT TO THE LICENSED DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS TOLD WAS QUALIFIED TO REPLACE THE PART AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT CLAIMING THAT THE VEHICLE IS TOO RUSTY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO LIFT IT UP ON THE AIR. I HAD JUST HAD 4 NEW TIRES PUT ON IT RECENTLY AND THEY USED A CAR LIFT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE THE PART REPLACED BECAUSE NOW I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DEFECT CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT IS NOT REPLACED. THE REASON IT IS BEING RECALLED IS BECAUSE IT IS PRONE TO RUST AND MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #11320089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH. PERSIST AFTER CHANGING TIRES, WHEELS, BRAKE PADS AND DISCS. THIS SHAKING MAKES THE CAR UNSTABLE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11258911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK THIS MORNING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT A DRASTIC PULL TO THE LEFT. I GET OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOK AT ALL SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AND DON'T NOTICE ANYTHING RIGHT AWAY. THEN I NOTICE MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT. I LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE TO FIND THE SUB FRAME ROTTED AND RUSTED AWAY FROM THE CONTROL ARM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS CAR HAS 123K MILES AND BEING A 2008 CAR, JUST 1 YEAR LATER THAN THE RECALLS CURRENTLY UP TO 2007 FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 2008 VEHICLES AS WELL DUE TO THE INSANE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SPECIFIC SUB FRAME ROTTING ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11222733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON BACK STREET THE CAR STARTED PULLING DRAMATICALLY TO THE LEFT. ON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS NOTICED THAT WHERE THE WHEEL CONNECTS TO THE SUBFRAME THERE WAS EXCESSIVE ROT THE POINT THE WHEEL WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SUBFRAME. CONTACTED MITSUBISHI. THEY SAID THE LANCER (AND OTHER MODELS) HAD A RECALL ON EXCESSIVE SUBFRAME ROT BUT ONLY YEARS 2002 TO 2007 FOR THE LANCER. MINE BEING 2008 IS NOT RECALLED. I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS $2000. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SUBFRAME HOLDS THE WHEELS ON, AND THE ENGINE IN PLACE AND IT HAD A CATISTROPIC FAILURE WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND LOSS OF LIFE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS OR I COULD HAVE INFORMED MY MECHANIC TO CAREFULLY LOOK FOR SUBFRAME ROT (MOST INSPECTIONS ARE JUST BY SITE). HAD ANYONE HIT THIS SUBFRAME WITH A HAMMER THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN IT WAS DISSINTEGRATING. THE CAR DOES LOOK LIKE ITS RECALLED IN CANADA " TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL 2016317, WHICH WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 21, 2016. THE RECALL INVOLVES 64,305 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER AND LANCER MODELS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2003 AND 2013." MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS HAS INFORMED ME TODAY THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. FAILURE OF A SUBFRAME IS A VERY RARE EVENT. ITS CLEAR THIS SUBFRAME HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE LANCERS BUILT THE YEAR BEFORE. THE OUTLANDER ALSO HAS THE EXACT SAME SUBFRAME. THE DEALER HAS MY SUBFRAME IN STOCK BECAUSE ITS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE OUTLANDER (WHICH IS COVERED). I AM HOPING THEY REALIZE THAT NOT INFORMING CUSTOMERS OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD RESULT IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. INFORMING THE LANCER OWNERS UP TO 2013 (AS THEY DID IN CANADA) COULD SAVE LIVES.
NHTSA complaint #11115419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 50 KM/H, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OF 90 DEGREE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT FORWARD. SOME SOUND OF TIRE-METAL WAS BEING HEARD FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. WITH SOMEONE OUTSIDE, WE WERE SEEING AT LOW SPEED THAT THE WHEEL WAS ROTATING OFF AXIS AND EVEN TOUCHING THE CAR BODY. AFTER BEING TOWING TO A CANADIAN TIRE, THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS SO ROTTEN IT WAS ACTUALLY BREAKING IN TWO PARTS AND IT WAS SO DANGEROUS, HE COULD NOT LET ME GO WITHOUT PART REPLACEMENT. THE MECHANIC TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT OTHER LANCER HAD THE PROBLEM EVEN A 2009 LANCER. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2016317, HOWEVER THIS ONE IS ONLY FOR LANCER 2003 TO 2006 (AND ALSO OUTLANDERS). NOTE THAT MY PROBLEM WAS THE SAME CAR PART AS THE RECALL MENTIONED ABOVE. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP TO VERIFY THE CROSS MEMBER CAR PART VS THE OLDER MODEL AND THE PART NUMBER WAS DIFFERENT. I'M WONDERING HOW DIFFERENT FROM 2003 TO 2006 THE CART PART IS! THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT DODGE CALIBER HAS THE SAME CAR PART IN PROBLEM WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FOUND THIS ARTICLE RELATED TO THIS HTTPS://CHRYSLER.OEMDTC.COM/457/FRONT-AND-REAR-CROSSMEMBER-CORROSION-X69-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-2008-2012-DODGE-CALIBER-JEEP-COMPASSPATRIOT/2
NHTSA complaint #11021345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECALL INFO: "THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES OF THE FRONT CROSS MEMBERS USED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES IF EXPOSED LONG TERM TO SNOW MELT WATER AND ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS MAY CORRODE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF THE RUST PROTECTION. SHOULD CORROSION OCCUR, A LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD BECOME DETACHED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POTENTIAL COLLISION. IN MAY 2016 WE HAD TO HAVE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FRONT SWAY BARK LINK ASSEMBLY." I BELIEVE THIS IS ALL PART OF THE CORROSION MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE RECALL. CAR WAS MOVING WHEN LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED. $285.00 TO REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM & FRONT SWAY BAR LINK.
NHTSA complaint #10939837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STOPPED ON A TRAIN TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME, STEERING CONTROL ARM, AND TIE ROD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10928485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HI MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MHE 2011 LANCER WHILE SHE WAS TURNING TOWARD THE RIGHT TO ANOTHER STREET THE WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL TURN A LITTLE THEN LOCKED UP ON HER ALMOST STRUCKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THAT HAPPEND SHE ALSO STEPED ON HER BRAKES AND DINT ALSO WANYED TO STOP. ALMOST CUASING HER AND MY SON TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT HAPPEND ON A STATE ROUTE INTO A STREET. NEXT DAY CAR HAS A WIERD SOUND EVERY TIME U TURN LEFT AND STEERING FEELS FUNNY.
NHTSA complaint #10910096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10898183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK ON BUT HAD TO PRESS HARD TO KEEP IT IN PLACE MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REATTACH IT BUT HAD TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG AND NOW COST $700 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN AIR BAG AND HORN. I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE REGARDING THIS IS THIS SOMETHING BEING REVIEWED OR A RECALL. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10733820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V281000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #10654445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.