Mitsubishi Lancer years to avoid
More than twice the Lancer's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Mitsubishi Lancer years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Mitsubishi Lancer complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Mitsubishi Lancer problems
All model years combined.
- Transmission159
- Visibility148
- Engine131
- Airbags112
- Suspension78
- Electrical74
- Brakes67
- Body60
- Acceleration45
- Steering43
- Lights32
- Fuel system24
Most reported problems on the Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 93 | 6 | Airbags | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | 78 | 30 | Transmission | 67,000 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 79 | 23 | Electrical | 21,000 | 1 | 5 | Fewest complaints |
| 2014 | 82 | 16 | Transmission | 75,000 | 0 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2013 | 94 | 5 | Engine | 83,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 85 | 19 | Engine | 55,000 | 1 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2011 | 74 | 34 | Engine | 54,500 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 56 | 51 | Engine | 70,000 | 6 | 5 | |
| 2009 | 30 | 98 | Engine | 75,000 | 8 | 11 | Avoid |
| 2008 | 36 | 91 | Suspension | 33,000 | 5 | 8 | Avoid |
| 2007 | 95 | 2 | Airbags | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2006 | 70 | 37 | Airbags | 100,000 | 4 | 5 | |
| 2005 | 80 | 24 | Airbags | 70,000 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 42 | 80 | Visibility | 60,000 | 4 | 7 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 11 | 199 | Visibility | 50,000 | 2 | 13 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 18 | 148 | Visibility | 68,000 | 2 | 32 | Avoid |
| 2000 | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 1996 | - | 1 | Engine | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 15
Questions about the Mitsubishi Lancer
What years of the Mitsubishi Lancer should you avoid?
2002, 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009. Each has more than twice the Mitsubishi Lancer's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2003 alone has 199, mostly about visibility and transmission.
What is the best year for a used Mitsubishi Lancer?
2014, 2012 and 2015 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (16, 19 and 23).
What is the most common problem with the Mitsubishi Lancer?
Transmission, with 159 complaints across all years, followed by visibility (148) and engine (131).
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Lancer have?
15 recalls between 1996 and 2017. The 2009 model year has the most, with 8.
VIN decoder
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Buying a used Mitsubishi Lancer?
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