2009 Mitsubishi Lancer power train problems

“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.”

“THE FOLLOWING IS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK ACKNOWLEDGED BY MITSUBISHI AND ADDRESSED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN. THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL OF THE DIPSTICK. (HTTPS://MITSUBISHITECHINFO.COM/DATA/TECH_DOCS/2010/52005696/HTML/520056966.HTM) AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEEDS, 70MPH AND UNDER, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND A SLOW DOWN WARNING APPEARED. I PULLED OVER, LIFTED THE HOOD AND LET IT COOL DOWN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES; THE WARNING HAD DISAPPEARED. I RESUMED DRIVING AT SPEEDS 45 AND UNDER, AND WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL THE TRANSMISSION WHINED VERY LOUDLY AND I LOST SO MUCH POWER THAT THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW TO A STOP ON THE ROAD. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE SLOW DOWN LIGHT WAS NOT ON, BUT I DID RECEIVE ENGINE CODE P0741. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, I LET IT COOL DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE THEN TOOK AN EXIT. WITH NO SLOW DOWN WARNING, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WHINED VERY LOUDLY AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. AN 18 WHEELER WAS ONCOMING AND WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP. THANKFULLY, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY, BUT IT WAS CLOSE. I…”

“S-AWC PUMP HAS A CORRODIBLE HOUSING AND IS PLACED IN AN AREA THAT IS EXPOSED TO SALT AND WATER FROM THE REAR PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL. THE PLACEMENT OF THE PUMP IS A DESIGN FLAW AND HAS LED TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE PUMP HOUSING AND FAILURE OF THE PUMP. THE FAILURE OF THE PUMP COMPLETELY DISABLES BOTH THE ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL AND THE ACTIVE YAW CONTROL SYSTEMS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE INTENDED TO ASSIST THE DRIVER IN CONTROLLING THE CAR UNDER ADVERSE HANDLING SITUATIONS.”

“MITSUBISHI LANCER DCT470 SST TRANSMISSION RECALL - MY TRANSMISSION LOST EVEN GEARS WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE CAR SELECTED A LOWER GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I PULLED OVER TO TROUBLESHOOT AND EVENTUALLY MADE IT HOME. THIS COSTLY REPAIR FORCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER CAR AND HAVE SINCE LEFT THE REPAIR UNATTENDED. THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT A PETITION WAS STARTED TO HELP THOSE OTHERS THAT WERE ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS A SHIFT FORK MAGNET BECOMES DISLOCATED FROM THE BRACKET AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO SELECT EVEN GEARS. IN ORDER TO REPAIR, A SPECIALIST MUST DISASSEMBLE AND REBUILD THE CASE. IT IS NOT CAUSED FROM ANY MAINTENANCE NEGLECT NOR DRIVING HABIT OR ABUSE. IT CAN OCCUR IN ALL MODELS WITH THIS SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS A WORLDWIDE ISSUE INCLUDING CANADA & AUSTRALIA. I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED MY PERSONAL TRANSMISSION AND HOPE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. MAYBE WITH YOUR HELP MITSUBISHI CAN RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM FOR ME, ALL THOSE AFFECTED, AND PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING TO FUTURE OWNERS. PLEASE NOTE I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS ISSUE…”

“THERE'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILED UNDER WARRANTY AT 90,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED FREE. TRANSMISSION HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN AT 120,000 MILES AND DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE.”

“TAKATA RECALL SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE ACD PUMP HAS BEEN FINE. BACK IN SEPTEMBER THE RED TRIANGLE CAME ON AND I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANT. I BARLEY DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IT SEEMS SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TOO. MITSUBISHI WANTS TO CHARGE ME $800-$1200 TO FIX IT. I REFUSE TO PAY THIS AMOUNT AFTER SEEING EVERYONE ELSE HAS THIS SAME ISSUE.”