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Research · Compact Cars

2002 Mitsubishi LancerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 155 owner complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. Most complaints involve visibility (25) and air bags (24). The EPA rates it 23–26 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
23–26mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Jun 2016
Owner complaints
155
Top: visibility
Fuel cost / yr
$2,450est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: lower arm

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

SuspensionReported Jun 23, 2016NHTSA 16V458000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported May 8, 2006NHTSA 06E038000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

155 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2002 – Jun 2022
  1. Visibility25
  2. Air bags24
  3. Power train22
  4. Engine and engine cooling22
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic17
  6. Suspension15
  7. Steering12
  8. Vehicle speed control10
  9. Structure8

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

By model year

Complaints for each Lancer model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2002155
2003311
200483
200524
200637
20072
200891
2009121
201085
201149
201223
20135
201423
201526
201630
20176
Crashes reported
33
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
22
Deaths reported
2
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Visibility

25 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2022VisibilityODI 11471221

Air bags

24 reports24 crashes
“MY HUSBAND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND OVER CORRECTED HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND A TREE AND THIS PUSHED HIM BACK INTO THE ROAD AND SPIN SHOOTING HIM INTO ANOTHER EMBANKMENT AND THIS RESULTED IN HIM BEING FORCED BACKWARDS AND INTO ANOTHER DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD HITTING A MAILBOX AND ANOTHER DITCH. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BROKE AS IF HE WAS LAYING DOWN TO SLEEP BUT IT WAS BROKE INTO THIS POSITION. HE HIT HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND INJURED HIS EYE SOME HOW AND THE HOSPITAL SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. WHY DID HIS SEAT GET THROWED BACK LIKE THAT AND BREAK PLEASE EXPLAIN. I COULD HAVE LOST MY HUSBAND..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2017Air bags, SeatsCrash reportedODI 10984506

Power train

22 reports2 crashes
“I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A SECOND OWNER AS I WAS TOLD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING FUNNY AT FIRST AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SITTING FOR A WHILE. THE CAR HAD ONLY 115,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED, THE REASON I BOUGHT IT WITH LOW MILES AND APPEARANCE. LAST WEEK WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN, THE CAR ACTED EVEN FUNNIER UNTIL IT STALLED: THE CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE IN ANY FORWARD GEARS, IT WILL ONLY ENGAGE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE FACT, I WAS TOLD BY MANY SOURCES THAT THE 2002-2005 LANCERS HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN MANY WAYS. I NEED TO KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE AND WHAT COULD BE DONE ESPECIALLY AFTER I LOOKED AT THE BLOGS ABOUT WHAT'S SO NAMED " LANCERS". IT WILL BE A SHAME FOR A MANUFACTURER TO RELEASE A CAR IN THE MARKET WITH SUCH PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2012Power trainODI 10446750
All 2002 Lancer problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 6, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Lancer
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
243026$2,450342
Lancer
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
233025$2,550355
Lancer
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212623$2,800386
Lancer
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212723$2,800386
  • Lancer
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    24 city · 30 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    23 city · 30 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    21 city · 26 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    21 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer as of Nov 6, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 6, 2026Vehicle 4407
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2002 Lancer questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 6, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?

Owners filed 155 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are visibility (25), air bags (24), power train (22). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer at 23–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 6, 2026