Reliability & cost of ownership
Mitsubishi Lancer Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Mitsubishi Lancer? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Mitsubishi Lancer problems by model year
59 recall entries and 864 owner complaints on file across 18 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Lancer | 0 | 6 | 4.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2016 Lancer | 2 | 29 | 4.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2015 Lancer | 1 | 23 | 4.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2014 Lancer | 0 | 16 | 4.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2013 Lancer | 0 | 5 | 4.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2012 Lancer | 1 | 19 | 4.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2011 Lancer | 3 | 34 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2010 Lancer | 6 | 51 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2009 Lancer | 8 | 98 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2008 Lancer | 5 | 91 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2007 Lancer | 3 | 2 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2006 Lancer | 7 | 37 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2005 Lancer | 6 | 24 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2004 Lancer | 7 | 80 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2003 Lancer | 6 | 199 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2002 Lancer | 4 | 148 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2000 Lancer | 0 | 1 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1996 Lancer | 0 | 1 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Mitsubishi Lancer, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- power train158 complaints
- visibility127 complaints
- air bags112 complaints
- engine78 complaints
- suspension78 complaints
- electrical system74 complaints
- service brakes68 complaints
- structure60 complaints