Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

Owners filed 37 complaints about the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer with NHTSA between Nov 2006 and Aug 2022. The most-cited component is air bags (16).

Complaints
37
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags16
  2. Suspension9
  3. Structure5
  4. Exterior lighting4
  5. Vehicle speed control3
  6. Visibility/wiper2
  7. Service brakes2
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  9. Power train1
  10. Engine and engine cooling1
  11. Electrical system1
  12. Steering1
  13. Equipment1
  14. Electronic stability control1

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
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
20061
20072
20081
20091
20100
20111
20120
20130
20141
20152
20167
20175
20186
20195
20201
20211
20223

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

Air bags

16 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY MOTHER'S CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED MORE THAN 5 YEARS AGO, AND MY MOTHER HAS BEEN DEAD FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. IS THERE ANY WAY TO HAVE THIS VIN: [XXX], REMOVED FROM DATABASES? IT IS ANNOYING AND PAINFUL TO RECEIVE MAIL CONCERNING A WRECKED CAR THAT BELONGED TO MY LATE MOTHER.; THANK YOU.; *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2018Air bagsODI 11130832

Suspension

9 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, she heard abnormal loud grinding sounds coming from underneath the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that her mother had informed her that she had seen an unknown part hanging underneath the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she would need to take the vehicle to their location for recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V458000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,550.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2022SuspensionODI 11478946

Structure

5 reports
“My lancer has very bad rear end chassis rust where the rear subframe is fastened to the monobody. In this area all the suspension components and rear drivetrain are located. Damage occurs due to salt and other corrosive agents that are used for roads in Connecticut to melt snow. These agents rust the car where Mitsubishi failed to properly protect the steel under the rear end of the vehicle. It is widely observed that the 03-06 lancer has from factory a poor to almost no anti rust agent applied to the lower rear chassis area of the car where the subframe crossmember is located that holds suspension components and rear differential. Currently under nhtsa campaign 16V458000, there is a safety recall for the front subframe crossmember due to rust damage. As for the rear of the car there most certainly should be a safety campaign as the rust in this area develops quicker and can cause a catastrophic failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2022StructureODI 11455652

Exterior lighting

4 reports3 related recalls
“AFTER THEY CHANGE THE AIRBAGS FROM THE WARNING LIGHTS IS ON AND DEALERS CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2019Exterior lighting, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11254805

Vehicle speed control

3 reports1 crash
“APPLIED BRAKE, BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, INSTEAD VEHICLE SPED UP CAUSING COLLISION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2018Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11100539

Visibility/wiper

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM SEEING OUT THE WINDOW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO GALLERY MITSUBISHI-CORONA (LOCATED AT 2550 WARDLOW RD, CORONA, CA 92882, (951) 372-0008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2019Visibility/wiperODI 11282915
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.