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Research · Compact Cars

2010 Mitsubishi LancerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 85 owner complaints for the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer. Most complaints involve power train (28) and engine (14). The EPA rates it 20–26 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–26mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest May 2020
Owner complaints
85
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,450est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Structure: frame and members

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

StructureReported May 18, 2020NHTSA 20V279000

Engine and engine cooling: belts and associated pulleys

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jan 26, 2018NHTSA 18V069000

Visibility: sun

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.

VisibilityReported Jan 26, 2018NHTSA 18V071000
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

85 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2010 – Aug 2023
  1. Power train28
  2. Engine14
  3. Electronic stability control (esc)11
  4. Engine and engine cooling11
  5. Electrical system6
  6. Steering6
  7. Service brakes6
  8. Exterior lighting4
  9. Visibility4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Lancer model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2002155
2003311
200483
200524
200637
20072
200891
2009121
201085
201149
201223
20135
201423
201526
201630
20176
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
4
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

28 reports1 crash
“ALL MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X MODELS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AYC ACD PUMPS, THIS AFFECTS THE STABILITY AND THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY IN CASE OF A SLIPPERY OR BAD ROAD. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PUMPS BEGIN WITH IT'S LOCATION BECAUSE IT RECEIVES DIRT,WATER, SNOW AND OTHER ELEMENTS THAT HARM THE PUMP. THIS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FROM MITSUBISHI BECAUSE IT FAILED DUE TO A BAD DESIGN AND LOCATION OF IT AND IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR DRIVERS SPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, I WILL LIKE THIS CONCERN COULD BE TAKEN IN CONSIDERATION FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION OWNERS, THANKS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2021Steering, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11397295

Engine

14 reports1 fire
“The car started flashing a warning sign and loosing power. When trying to accelerate it stops. Eventually it puts the car into a limp mode and will stall altogether. This happens any long distance trip. My car year and model is not the only Lancer being effected by this computer glitch. It’s very dangerous due to the fact that the cars loosing power while you’re driving. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the middle of the highway it will just stop working. All research I have done points to an error within the computer that tells the car when to cool down the transmission. I have seen many blogs, forums and actually know another Lancer owner who’s model is a 2012 and has the exact same issue. I don’t know why this hasn’t been addressed yet when it’s affecting more than just one Lancer here or there. Bad for the engine bad for the transmission bad for my travel. And the worst part is that any mechanic is unable to detect the issue unless the car is actively coding. I’ve had this car for 3 years now and I feel it’s a big safety concern and needs to looked into. First occurrence was on a trip down to a local lake car stalled on the side of a highway this was in 2018.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2022Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11485374

Electronic stability control (esc)

11 reports1 crash
“MY ABS AND ASC LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WASNT A PROBLEM, JUST A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONE DAY, I WAS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP TRYING TO BRAKE SO I COULD TURN BUT MY BRAKES WOULDNT ENGAGE SO I SLAM ON MY BRAKE AND THEY LOCKED UP AND MY CAR SLID AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. TIRED TO STEER AWAY BUT IT WOULDNT TURN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2020Steering, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11323112
All 2010 Lancer problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S6) · Manual 5-spd · Automatic (AM6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 6, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Lancer
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
233026$2,450342
Lancer
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
222925$2,550355
Lancer
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223125$2,550355
Lancer
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$2,800386
Lancer
Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
172520$4,000444
  • Lancer
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    23 city · 30 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    22 city · 29 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    22 city · 31 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Lancer
    Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    17 city · 25 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer as of Nov 6, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 6, 2026Vehicle 5618
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2010 Lancer questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 6, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?

Owners filed 85 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (28), engine (14), electronic stability control (esc) (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer at 20–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 6, 2026