FaultScore

Mitsubishi Lancer window and wiper problems

151 of the 1,139 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Lancer are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

151

Complaints

13%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year

2002 Lancer 27 17.9%

Median failure at 90,500 miles

2003 Lancer 77 51.0%

Median failure at 73,500 miles

2004 Lancer 23 15.2%

Median failure at 73,249 miles

2005 Lancer 1 0.7%

Median failure at 8,500 miles

2006 Lancer 2 1.3%

Median failure at 143,000 miles

2008 Lancer 2 1.3%

Median failure at 183,032 miles

2009 Lancer 4 2.6%

Median failure at 87,000 miles

2010 Lancer 6 4.0%

Median failure at 81,250 miles

2011 Lancer 3 2.0%

Median failure at 76,000 miles

2012 Lancer 2 1.3%

Median failure at 27,250 miles

2015 Lancer 2 1.3%

Median failure at 2,619 miles

2016 Lancer 1 0.7%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

2017 Lancer 1 0.7%

What owners said

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer at 221,660 miles Honolulu, HI

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

The contact's daughter owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she felt an air draft inside of the vehicle. The contact's daughter attempted to close the sunroof when she noticed that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the sunroof part was no longer manufactured and they were unable to get the part to perform the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 221,660.

NHTSA complaint #11471221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer at 90,000 miles Carrollton, TX

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DEFOGGER FAILED TO OPERATE AS AIR STOPPED FLOWING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER, AIR CONDITIONER AND DEFOGGER FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. DON HERRING NORTH MITSUBISHI (4225 W PLANO PKWY, PLANO, TX 75093) WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V233000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #11366664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer at 135,000 miles Joliet, IL

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR UPON TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM. MAX MADSEN'S AURORA MITSUBISHI (3990 OGDEN AVE, AURORA, IL 60504) WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V233000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED WHEN HEAT WAS TURNED ON ABNORMAL NOISE WOULD COME ON. BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #11328333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Lititz, PA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE MITSUBISHI DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIX ONE OF THE RECALLS BECAUSE IT WAS AN "AFTER MARKET PART".

NHTSA complaint #11328035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Mitsubishi Lancer Hampton, GA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I FINALLY GOT HOME TO LOOK AT MY NEW CAR AND I WANT CAR THAT HAS NO SCRATCHES OR PAINT EVEN COMING OFF SLIGHTLY.... THIS A HARDLY THING YOU CAN SEE AND MY DEFROST, WHEN IS CUT ON, MAKES A CLICK/POP NOISE EARLY IN MORNING... I WANT A CAR ALSO WITH SPORT MODE A MITSUBISHI LANCER THANK YALL .

NHTSA complaint #11320725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer at 143,000 miles Menifee, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM SEEING OUT THE WINDOW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO GALLERY MITSUBISHI-CORONA (LOCATED AT 2550 WARDLOW RD, CORONA, CA 92882, (951) 372-0008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA complaint #11282915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer at 80,000 miles Calgary, MT 2 injured

VISIBILITY/WIPER

CAR DEFOG FAILED AT NIGHT IN HIGHWAY IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM. DRIVER AND PASSENGER UNABLE TO SEE LANES OUT OF ALL WINDOWS. APPRIXIMATE SPEED WAS 100 K.M. THIS OCCURRED DURING A WARM SUMMER MONTH. DRIVER ALMOST CRASHED CAR AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH ON ROADSIDE AFTER NOT SEEING CURVE IN ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #11196498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Coco Veajo, Salinas, PR

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V070100 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. RICARDO CABALLERO MITSUBISHI AUTO CORP (LOCATED AT 10, 4 CLL 5, COAMO, 00769, PUERTO RICO, +1 787-303-4457) CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11195851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Muskogee, OK

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11172765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer at 28,500 miles Bronx, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WINDOW WIPER WILL FAIL IN MIDDLE SWIPE. WHEN TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, IT MAY START AGAIN HOWEVER IT SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WIPING MOTION. OUTLANDER SPORT FROM YEAR 2011-2016 HAD A CURRENT RECALL FOR WIPER LINKAGE CORROSION (784902762095). THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT MODEL AND THE LANCER MODEL SHARE MANY COMMON PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #11166633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer at 83,000 miles Lakeville, MN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer at 26,000 miles Bronx, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE WIPER MOTOR WILL FAIL RANDOMLY, THE BLADE WILL JUST STOP MOVING. WHEN THE WIPER IS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN BUT THEN FAIL AGAIN. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING. THERE IS A RECENT RECALL FOR THE 2011-2015 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT MODEL (RECALL NUMBER 16V792000) WITH "INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THE POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE MOTOR." WHICH HAS THE SAME WIPER COMPONENTS AS THE LANCER MODEL.

NHTSA complaint #11123354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Arcata, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WE NO LONGER HAVE THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH THIS CAR AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I HAVE TALKED TO MITSUBISHI RECALL CENTER ABOUT THIS VERY DANGEROUS AIRBAG THAT HAS ALREADY KILLED 23 PEOPLE: UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NOT A DEALERSHIP WHERE I LIVE, SO ACCORDING TO THE MITSUBISHI CASE WORKER ONE OF US WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN ORLAND CA: WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AWAY/ THIS CAR HAS 130,000 MILES ON IT AND CAN HEAR A TAPPING NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTING. BECAUSE OF THIS NOISE, MY HUSBAND FEELS THIS CAR MAY BREAK DOWN ON THE WAY TO THIS DEALERSHIP. MY HUSBAND ALSO HAS A HARD TIME GETTING TIME OFF, "DUE TO THE NATURE OF HIS JOB," AND I HAVE ANXIETY AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I ALSO HAVE A HARD TIME DRIVING LONG DISTANCES DUE TO A TORN MENISCUS THAT I HAD SURGERY FOR IN FEBRUARY OF 2017. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS KNEE AND AM CURRENTLY STILL ON DISABILITY FROM THIS INJURY. THIS I HAVE RELATED TO THE MITSUBISHI CASE MANAGER WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO US. SHE SAID THAT ALL SHE CAN DO FOR US IS GIVE US $100.00 FOR THE COST OF GAS AND SHE DID NOT OFFER ANY OTHER SOLUTIONS, EVEN AFTER I EXPLAINED THE ABOVE TO HER. ARE WE REALLY STUCK WITH THIS OFFER? CAN YOU HELP US WITH THIS? DOES. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH MAKING PEOPLE TAKE A RISK TO FIX. THEY ARE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH OUR LIVES. SINCERELY, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11104595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer at 36,000 miles Lacey, WA 1 injured

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD SOUND, LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND MY SUNROOF SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR IMPACT TO MY CAR, IT JUST SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH GLASS RAINING EVERYWHERE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO ROCK IMPACT TO THE SUNROOF BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE REMAINING GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THE DOCUMENTATION TO MITSUBISHI CORPORATE, AFTER 8 HOURS OF REVIEW, THEY DECLINED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN DUE TO A ROCK IMPACT OR OTHER COLLISION AND NOT BECAUSE OF A GLASS OR MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #11085158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Pleasant Garden, NC

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST BLOWER FAILED TO FUNCTION BECAUSE THE BEARINGS WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. IN ADDITION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGN, ALTHOUGH THE SAME PART WAS IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11005112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Temple Hills, MD

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FAILS EMISSIONS DUE TO SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES CATALYTIC CONVERTER/SENSOR CIRCUIT SLOW RESPONSE MALFUNCTION ALSO PASSENGER WINDOWS AND KEY FOB BATTERY PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE 02 SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER'S WINDOW WAS INOPERABLE. THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS SLOW TO OPEN. THE KEY FOB ALSO IS INOPERABLE. UPDATED 06/21/2017

NHTSA complaint #10909213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer at 183,032 miles SAN Antonio, TX Fire

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE GLOVE BOX. NO VISIBLE FLAMES WERE PRESENT. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS ASE CERTIFIED, DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAN BLADE WAS CLEANED OFF AND ASHES WERE VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V233000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SERVICED PER THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 183,032.

NHTSA complaint #10981036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer at 160,000 miles Newport News, VA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10946463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Hartford, WI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTUATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED AND THE MOTOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10935102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Mitsubishi Lancer at 5,000 miles Pinch, WV Crash 1 injured

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 15 LANCER ARE RIDICULOUSLY DIM! I PURCHASED MY 15 LANCER IN OCTOBER 15 AND HIT TWO DEER WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF HAVING IT! I HAD NEVER HIT ANYTHING SINCE I STARTED DRIVING, OVER 8 YEARS NOW, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I GET THE LANCER, I HIT NOT ONE, BUT TWO DEER! SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT! I CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT AND NOW I HATE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN I USED TO LOVE IT! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS!

NHTSA complaint #10898070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mitsubishi Lancer problems