Problems · NHTSA complaints

2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback problems

Owners filed 16 complaints about the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback with NHTSA between Nov 2014 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is power train (6).

Complaints
16
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train6
  2. Air bags5
  3. Structure3
  4. Suspension2
  5. Fuel system, gasoline1
  6. Engine1
  7. Seat belts1
  8. Electrical system1
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  10. Wheels1
  11. Steering1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20141
20151
20162
20172
20181
20193
20202
20210
20221
20232
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

6 reports1 fire
“VEHICLE HAS APROX. 100K MILES ON ODOMETER AS OF TIME OF COMPLAINT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR TRANSMISSION "SLOW DOWN" MESSAGE BEFORE. VEHICLE HESITATES FOR APROX. 1-2 SEC. BEFORE MOVING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE THEN PROCEDED TO COMPLETELY STOP AND NOT DRIVE WHILE "DRIVE" RANGE WAS SELECTED. VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC UNTIL DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, SHUT OFF, AND RESTART ENGINE. SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OUTLANDER VEHICLES OF SIMILAR AGE AND SAME TRANSMISSION, CAUSED BY FAULTY TCM SOFTWARE. MULTIPLE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY SIMILAR FAULTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2023Power trainODI 11551801

Air bags

5 reports3 crashes
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V569000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A UNKNOWN LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER WHERE IT WAS 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2018Air bagsODI 11064971

Structure

3 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormally loud thumping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact pulled over the shoulder of the roadway. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the front driver’s side wheel had caved inward from the top. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was determined that the cross members were rusted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2024StructureODI 11609530

Suspension

2 reports1 crash
“The subframe on a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer with 57,000 miles on it has rusted and cracked. This seems identical to NHTSA campaign number: 20V-279 but this year/make is not covered under recall. I have pictures and a video taken by Conrad's as they are doing the replacement. I attached the photos but the video is to large, so here is a link https://photos.app.goo.gl/akY1TzhF6SXRSJFs7”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2023SuspensionODI 11506744

Fuel system, gasoline

1 report
“The contact owns a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he smelled a strong gasoline odor inside and outside of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continually drive the vehicle. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V546000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Parking Brake). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2022Fuel system, gasolineODI 11449608

Engine

1 report
“BELT TENSIONER IS BAD AND WHEN ACCELERATING MAKES NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD IN THE MORNING”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2019EngineODI 11288443
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.