Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer problems
Owners filed 311 complaints about the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is power train (120).
Complaints
311
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train120
- Visibility77
- Structure23
- Electrical system21
- Engine and engine cooling16
- Equipment15
- Suspension11
- Air bags9
- Vehicle speed control8
- Steering7
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Visibility/wiper6
- Exterior lighting5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
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 Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
28
88
30
17
28
15
16
30
14
11
5
4
3
5
2
5
3
2
1
0
1
1
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 88 |
| 2005 | 30 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 30 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
120 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CLUTCH FAILED TO FUNCTION AND THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Visibility
77 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE HEATING SYSTEM TO REMAIN ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE WINDOW BECAME FOGGY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TSB ACTION NUMBER: 10006466 (VISIBILITY) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,500. UPDATED 03/18/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER /AC CONTROLS WERE FLAWED BY DESIGN AND CAUSED A BIND UP OF THE CONTROLS NOT ALLOWING THE CORRECT DIRECTION OF AIRFLOW TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS. UPDATED 03/21/14”
Structure
23 reports
“UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE IN THE REAR, AREAS OF SEVERE CORROSION HAS DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE REAR ON THE ALUMINUM SUBFRAME BAR THAT HOLDS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN PLACE SUCH AS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL & LATERAL CONTROL BARS THAT CAN SURELY COMPROMISE THE CARS ABILITY TO DRIVE IF UNNOTICED. ADDITIONALLY THE FUEL LINES ALONG THE GAS TANK, AS WELL SURROUNDING SURFACES ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, HAVE DEVELOPED NOTICEABLE CORROSION AS WELL THAT IS ALSO PROVING TO BE A LARGE AREA OF CONCERN. I AM CERTAINLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THIS AND THE VEHICLES ROAD WORTHINESS BECAUSE OF THESE AREAS. THIS VEHICLE IS BY NO MEANS HEAVILY MODIFIED AT ALL, THE VEHICLE IS NEVER OPERATED BEYOND ITS LIMITATIONS/AGGRESSIVELY AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN GREAT FOR ME AS IS, AND IT RESEMBLES EXACTLY THE WAY IT DID WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY. SOURCING ORIGINAL AND DOT APPROVED REPLACEMENT PARTS HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND IT LEAVES ME AT A STANDSTILL. PLEASE IF THERE ISN'T SOME KIND OF ROAD WORTHY DIRECTIVE IN REGARDS TO THIS I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT CAN CERTAINLY COMPROMISE SAFETY FOR DRIVER IN COMMAND AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON…”
Electrical system
21 reports1 fire
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
16 reports
“RANDOM P0300 ERROR PLUS VIBRATION AT 2800 TO 3500 RPM. CONTACTED MITSUBISHI AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A TSB FOR ALL EVO VIII VEHICLES DUE TO A FAULTY INPUT SHAFT. HOWEVER, MITSUBISHI DOES NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 03 MODELS AS IT WOULD BE OUT OF WARRANTY LONG BEFORE THIS ISSUE SHOWS UP. PROBLEM OCCURS SPORADICALLY AND CAUSES SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER. IN AN ONCOMING PASSING SITUATION, THIS POWER LOSS COULD SERIOUSLY DEGRADE VEHICLE SAFETY. FIX IS EITHER TO REMOVE THE CHECK FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR OR REPLACE THE INPUT SHAFT AT A COST OF ABOUT 4000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MANUFACTURE CHOSE NOT TO ISSUE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS SUCH AS THIS ON THIS DATABOARD. MANUFACTURE DOES NOT INFORM CUSTOMER VOLUNTARILY WHEN A PROBLEM IS NOTED ON THE CAR AND SUBMIT RECOMMENDATION FOR FIX. *TR”
Equipment
15 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILED TO SWITCH FROM AIR CONDITIONER TO HEAT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.