Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer problems
Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (10).
Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags10
- Suspension2
- Electrical system2
- Structure2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Steering1
- Exterior lighting1
- Engine1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Power train1
- Wheels1
- Equipment1
- Visibility1
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 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
1
3
1
1
2
0
1
0
1
4
0
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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
Air bags
10 reports3 crashes2 related recalls
“I SOLD THIS CAR LAST JULY 2018 THROUGH A TRADE-IN. PLEASE STOP SENDING ME ALL OF THESE HORRIFYING REMINDERS. IT IS NOT APPRECIATED. PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME AND ADDRESS FROM ALL MAILING LISTS. I DID NOT GET IT DONE WHEN I OWNED THE CAR AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS QUITE A DRIVE AND I COULD NOT DROP IT OFF. CAR IS SOLD.”
Suspension
2 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CUP FROM THE BALL JOINTS, THE FRONT END, TIE ROD, UNKNOWN WIRING HARNESS AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN MITSUBISHI DEALER HOWEVER, WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”
Electrical system
2 reports
“THE SIGNAL LIGHTS STOP WORKING ALSO THE HAZARDS. THE HORN REMAINS ON. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT IS A PROBLEM OF THE CAR INSIDE BODY THAT TAKE THE CONNECTOR OF THE JUNCTION BLOCK AND CORRODE THEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.”
Structure
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BELL MITSUBISHI (1500 US-1, RAHWAY, NJ 07065, (732) 709-4333) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND FURTHER TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW THEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A CASE MANAGER WOULD FOLLOW-UP WITHIN TEN BUSINESS DAYS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Vehicle speed control
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE NOTICES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE BY UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,883.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
2 reports
“2005 LANCER ES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED 8-11-05 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. APPROXIMATELY 8,500 MILES, BEGAN TO HEAR RUBBING SOUNDS WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGH SPEED- THOUGHT IT NEEDED ALIGNMENT, SO TOOK IT IN, HAD WHEELS ALIGNED, AND ROTATED, (ALREADY HAD PREVIOUS ALIGNMENT AND ROTATION @ 6,000 MILES.) AFTER LOCAL (SURFACE STREET) DRIVING ONLY, AT 9,800 TOOK TO DEALER TO INSPECT PROBLEM, WITHIN 11 MONTHS OF PURCHASE. DEALER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKES WEARING OUT UNDER 15,000 MILES. SEEMS DEFECTIVE TO ME. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.