2004 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

“TAKATA RECALL. HAD ORIGINAL AIRBAG REPLACED 2 YRS AGO. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MITSUBISHI STATING I NEEDED TO HAVE IT DONE AGAIN. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR MITSUBISHI WHEN I LEARNED THEY NO LONGER HAVE A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP LOCALLY. I WAS ADVISED AT THAT TIME THAT THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP , IN EITHER DIRECTION, WAS 4-5 HOURS FROM WHERE I LIVE. I WAS ADVISED THAT I NEEDED TO CALL ALL THE MECHANICS IN THE AREA TO FIND ONE THAT IS CERTIFIED BY MITSUBISHI! IF I COULD FIND ONE AND THEY WERE MITSUBISHI CERTIFIED, THE WORK WOULD BE DONE AND MITSUBISHI WOULD PAY FOR IT. HOWEVER, THEY NEED TO HAVE CURRENT CERTIFICATION. I HAVE CALLED A FEW DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA, BUT NO ONE HAS A CERTIFICATION FOR MITSUBISHI. I DIDN'T INSTALL THE BAD AIRBAGS. I WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL TO EITHER OF THESE DEALERSHIPS, SPEND THE NIGHT IN A MOTEL, WAIT FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND WORK TO BE DONE, AND DRIVE HOME. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE RECEIVED A SECOND LETTER FROM MITSUBISHI STATING THAT I SHOULDN'T ALLOW ANYONE TO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR UNTIL IT'S REPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW IF THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IS ANY GOOD EITHER. I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP YOU CAN…”

“THIS IS WITH REFERENCE TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL, THE KNOB TO TURN SYSTEM TEMPERATURE FROM COLD TO HEAT, WITH TIME THE KNOB GOT STIFF AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN FROM COLD TO HEAT, FOR YEARS I HAVE HAD TO PLAY WITH IT EVERY TIME I NEEDED TO USE IT TO SWITCH TO THE TEMPERATURE I DESIRED ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN AND WHEN GOING FROM SUMMER TO WINTER. FINALLY THE KNOB BROKE OFF AND NOW I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO TURN IT MAKING IT "IMPOSSIBLE" TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THEY GET FOGGY FROM THE HUMIDITY OR EARLY IN THE MORNING DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS WHICH RESULTS IN UNSAFE DRIVING AS IT IMPAIRS MY VISION TO THE POINT THAT I NEED TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH IS QUITE DANGEROUS. ONLY THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST WORKS BECAUSE IT IS CONTROLLED BY A DIFFERENT KNOB. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO A GREAT AMOUNT OF OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER OWNERS, WITH MODELS BETWEEN 2002-2005 AND FOR THE EXACT KNOB, THE ONE FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL. THERE ARE 2 OTHER KNOBS TO CONTROL THE FAN AND DIRECTION OF AIR THAT WORK PERFECTLY AND NO REPORTS ON BEING STUCK OR BROKEN ON THOSE TWO.…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO ONE SIDE AND THE TIRES WERE WORN DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.”

“A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2005 FOR A POTENTIAL ISSUE IN THE POWER TRAIN. THE RECALL STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE REPAIR WAS TO FIRST TRY REPROGRAMMING THE POWER TRAIN. IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AFTERWARDS, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE ABOVE OUTLINED SERVICE IN 2005. THE POWER TRAIN WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT AWAY, BUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LATER RETURNED. A DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE INITIAL RECALL WORK IN 2005 WAS PROPERLY FULFILLED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MITSUBISHI HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR OF REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CITING THAT THE WORK DONE IN THE RECALL WAS SUFFICIENT. I CONTEND THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT THOROUGH ENOUGH AND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER.”

“THIS CAR KEEPS IDLING HIGH WHEN IT EITHER GETS WARM OUT OR IF I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER CANNOT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE SHE ALMOST CRASHED. EVERY SUMMER I WORRY ABOUT BEING AT A STOP SIGN AND WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BREAK THE CAR IS TRYING TO DRIVE. THERE IS SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IF YOU GOOGLE IT MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT COME UP ASKING FOR HELP. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S COOLING FAN STAYED ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP AND CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 4/30/2015 *JS”