Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

Owners filed 121 complaints about the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer with NHTSA between Jan 2009 and Oct 2023. The most-cited component is power train (31).

Complaints
121
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train31
  2. Engine24
  3. Electrical system19
  4. Exterior lighting13
  5. Service brakes9
  6. Air bags9
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  8. Suspension7
  9. Structure6
  10. Engine and engine cooling6
  11. Steering5
  12. Vehicle speed control5
  13. Seat belts5
  14. Visibility3

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
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
20099
20105
20116
20123
20139
201427
201513
20168
20175
20186
201912
202011
20211
20223
20233

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

Power train

31 reports1 crash1 fire
“The car started to slow down on its own even when my foot was on the gas it wouldn’t pick up speed over 20mph then it started to over heat, then smoke. It sounded like sparks like from a firecracker and smelt like something was burning to the point I had to pull over and turn the car off so my children and I could get out and breathe. When I restarted it turned on but would not drive when put into gear. I had it towed and the next day I tried again only this time the battery was dead and nothing was left on in the car I couldn’t understand how this happened so I bought a new battery put it in and it started still wouldn’t move though so I gave it a few days went to try again and the new battery was dead like something was draining all the power.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2023Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11521960

Engine

24 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE MECHANIC GAVE HER A $200 REIMBURSEMENT TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED SOON AFTER, INCLUDING SHAKING AND JERKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ENTIRE NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V069000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 12E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALLS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS OR THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 3, 2019Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11265899

Electrical system

19 reports1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights turned off and turned on independently, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V232000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2023Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11536104

Exterior lighting

13 reports1 crash
“WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. THEY WOULD CUT OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WOULD STAY ON WHEN CAR AND LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF AND WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE RELAY OUT TO GET THEM TURNED OFF. THEY WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS ON OR OFF. REPLACED NUMEROUS RELAYS, RETURNED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THREE TIMES. THIS CAUSED OUR SON TO HAVE A WRECK AS THE LOW BEAMS LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND A CAR NOT SEEING HIM PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. STARTED A 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AND NOTHING BEING DONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS OR DEATH FROM ACCIDENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2020Exterior lightingCrash reportedODI 11353849

Service brakes

9 reports2 crashes
“My brake light are no longer working and it is not because of a bulb I replaced all of them and they still do not work. And also my cruise control turns on and off but it will not set a speed”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2022Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11477444

Air bags

9 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING THE CAR OR PARKED AND RUNNING. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG MODULE THRU 2007 LANCER. MINE HAS 71K MILES. IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS FOR 2009 MODELS?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2021Air bagsODI 11399136
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.