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Model file · MitsubishiUpdated · 18 sources

Selling a broken or junk Mitsubishi Lancer

More than half of all Lancer complaints filed with NHTSA sit on the first six model years. The 2002-2007 cars hold 652 of 1,186. The 2003 alone holds 298, and 116 of those name the power train.

A red 1976 Mitsubishi Lancer four-door sedan on the grass at a car show, with two men standing behind it
Photo: Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Model years (EPA)
2002-2017
Complaints to NHTSA
1,186
Year with the most complaints
2003 (298)
Component named most
Power train (293)
Recall campaigns
21
Production ended
August 2017 (outside Taiwan)

So if you're holding an early Lancer with a failed transmission or a later one with a dead engine, you have company. You can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

Two generations, two sets of problems

Our count of Lancer owner reports at NHTSA is dated October 10, 2026. Read them as raw totals, not a reliability score. The final Lancer model years haven't been driven as long. There are 21 recall campaigns in total.

2002-2007: the eighth generation

Per Wikipedia, the Nagoya Plant in Okazaki, Japan built this Lancer for the US from 2000-2007. The Lancer Evolution VII was its close relative. These years hold 652 complaints.

On the 2003, power train leads with 116 and visibility follows with 65. Visibility is also the top component on the 2002, with 23. The 2002 has the most crashes reported of any Lancer year, 32, along with 22 injuries and 2 deaths.

Air bags lead the 2004, 2005 and 2006 (21, 12 and 16 complaints). The passenger inflator was recalled more than once:

  • 17V569000: a different passenger inflator on 2004-2006 Lancers and Evolutions and 2004 Sportbacks.
  • 18V220000: a final inflator for 2004-2006 Lancers that got only a like-for-like part under recall 15V321.
  • 16V334000: a new passenger inflator on 2006-2007 Lancers and Evolutions.

Rust is the other recall. Under 16V458000, dealers check the front cross members of 2002-2007 Lancers sold or registered in some states. The 194,674-vehicle count also covers Outlanders and Evolutions.

2008-2017: the ninth generation

Wikipedia puts this Lancer on Mitsubishi's GS platform, built at the Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki. It shared that platform with the Lancer Evolution X and the second- and third-generation Outlander. These years hold 534 complaints.

The 2008 has 150: power train 39, electronic stability control 14, structure 14. On the 2009 (123), power train leads with 23 and engine follows with 22. Many of this generation's recalls also covered the Outlander:

  • 14V562000 and 18V069000: a replacement drive belt for 2008-2011, then a better belt tensioner for 4B11 and 4B12 engines in 2009-2012.
  • 15V232000: a replacement engine control unit on 2009-2010 Lancers.
  • 09V077000: a brake booster check valve that can stick closed (2008-2009).
  • 20V279000: front cross member corrosion on 2008-2010 Lancers.

Others were Lancer-only or Lancer-family: 15V233000 for a suspect blower motor, 18V071000 for sunroof glass that can come loose, and 09V435000 for front air bag sensors with better corrosion resistance. Evolution owners should know 13V446000, a clutch master cylinder on 2008-2013 cars.

The last years are quiet. The exception is the 2016, where 19 of 30 complaints name the power train. For 2016 Lancers, recall 16V563000 loads new software into the CVT control unit. Wikipedia notes Mitsubishi ended Lancer production in August 2017 everywhere except Taiwan.

Is it worth fixing?

Weigh the shop's quote against the price of a working Lancer from your year. If it comes close, selling is usually the better call.

  1. Look up recalls first at NHTSA's recall page. The inflator, belt and cross member recalls are free.
  2. Transmission slipping or stuck? Our bad transmission guide explains the symptoms. CVT cars can also use failing CVT.
  3. Air bags already deployed after a crash? See airbags deployed.
  4. Rust in the front end on a car from a salt state? See rotted frame.

Complaints and recalls by model year

From NHTSA's complaint file, October 10, 2026. "Injured" counts complaints that report an injury. Recall campaigns are those listed for each year, and one campaign often spans several years.

Model yearComplaintsInjuredNamed mostRecall campaigns
200214822Visibility (23)2
200329813Power train (116)3
2004934Air bags (21)4
2005404Air bags (12)4
2006713Air bags (16)4
200720Air bags and electrical (1 each)2
20081506Power train (39)7
200912310Power train (23)10
2010884Power train (24)7
2011491Power train (12)4
2012271Power train (10)2
2013120Power train (4)1
2014232Power train (6)2
2015263Power train and electrical (6 each)2
2016302Power train (19)2
201760Air bags (3)0

Getting the Lancer sold whole

  1. Have ready the VIN, mileage, trim (base, Sportback, Ralliart or Evolution) and what's wrong.
  2. Ask for an offer online or call (877) 421-6008.
  3. Describe the spot: tell us where the Lancer is parked, like a driveway, garage, shop lot or street, and whether it rolls. Lowered cars sit close to the ground, so mention it. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
  4. Keep it whole. Leave the Lancer's turbo, wheels and converter on the car. Tell us about any parts already sold.
  5. Bring the title and ID to pickup. If the title has a lien on it, see lien still on the title. Plates and insurance afterward: after you sell.

Questions people ask

Which Lancer year has the most NHTSA complaints?
The 2003 Lancer leads with 298 as of October 10, 2026. The 2008 (150), 2002 (148) and 2009 (123) follow it. On the 2003, 116 complaints name the power train. The final Lancer model years are younger, so their owners have logged fewer months of driving to file reports.
Does my 2004-2006 Lancer still need its passenger air bag recall?
Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall 17V569000 replaces the passenger air bag inflator on 2004-2006 Lancers and Evolutions. Recall 18V220000 installs a final inflator on 2004-2006 Lancers that got only an interim one under 15V321. Both are free at a Mitsubishi dealer.
Will you buy a Lancer or Evolution that won't run?
Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, Evolutions and Ralliarts included, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.

  1. EPA fuel economy data (model years, classes, variants) fueleconomy.gov
  2. NHTSA datasets: complaints flat file FLAT_CMPL.zip, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
  3. NHTSA: check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
  4. NHTSA recall 17V569000: passenger air bag inflator nhtsa.gov
  5. NHTSA recall 18V220000: final passenger air bag inflator nhtsa.gov
  6. NHTSA recall 16V334000: passenger air bag inflator, 2006-2007 nhtsa.gov
  7. NHTSA recall 16V458000: front cross member corrosion nhtsa.gov
  8. NHTSA recall 09V077000: brake booster check valve nhtsa.gov
  9. NHTSA recall 09V435000: front air bag sensor corrosion nhtsa.gov
  10. NHTSA recall 14V562000: engine drive belt nhtsa.gov
  11. NHTSA recall 18V069000: drive belt tensioner nhtsa.gov
  12. NHTSA recall 15V232000: engine control unit nhtsa.gov
  13. NHTSA recall 15V233000: blower motor nhtsa.gov
  14. NHTSA recall 18V071000: sunroof glass nhtsa.gov
  15. NHTSA recall 20V279000: front cross member corrosion nhtsa.gov
  16. NHTSA recall 13V446000: Lancer Evolution clutch master cylinder nhtsa.gov
  17. NHTSA recall 16V563000: CVT control unit software nhtsa.gov
  18. Wikipedia: Mitsubishi Lancer (generations, plants, end of production) en.wikipedia.org