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2002 Mitsubishi Lancer acceleration problems

10 complaints (7% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 94,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints
10
of this car's complaints
7%
typical mileage
94,000
crashes
2
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Cruise control
    1
  • Accelerator pedal
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Mitsubishi Lancer acceleration problems in other years

20022003200420052006200820092010201220152016

Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer acceleration

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Sudden acceleration 5

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 14, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 150,000 miles · IN · crash

Was going to the gas station to get gas and car accelerated on it's own. Then engine seized. There was no power steering then. Ran into a ditch. Car started smoking from engine. I didn't know there were recalls on these cars or I wouldn't have bought one. Biggest pain I've ever owned! The engine is wrecked. I spent a lot of money on this car. I have no car now, what am I supposed to do?

Filed Mar 4, 2010 · Acceleration · 137,120 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi lancer. The contact was driving approximately 35 MPH; approached a traffic stop light. The engine began to rev; and vehicle lunged forward. During braking there was difficulty to stop the vehicle. The authorized dealer was notified of the malfunction. The vehicle has not been repaired at this time. The failure mileage was 137,120. Updated 11/16/10.

Filed Mar 26, 2007 · Acceleration, Engine · 94,000 miles · AL

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that the vehicle idled above the normal idle rate. The rpms increased, similar to as if the accelerator pedal was being depressed. The contact stated that the idling was a recurring failure that usually took place at lower speeds. When the vehicle was cranked or low on fuel the air conditioning powered on automatically. Also, the vehicle attempted to accelerate automatically when idling, and the brake pedal was depressed. Exhaust fumes entered the vehicle intermittently. In addition, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal was sticking on occasion. The current and failure mileage were 94000.

Filed Oct 10, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · 45,000 miles · IL · crash

Vehicle accelerates on it's own. I have informed mitshubishi of the problem however according to mitshubishi they could not reproduce the problem by computer so as far as they were concerned there was no problem. I recently had an accident in the car and of course mitshubishi is trying to wiggle out of it. I guess I have to get killed in their vehicle before anything will be done. All I want is for mitshubishi to take their defective merchandise and give me the money that I have invested in this death trap so that I can purchase another vehicle. I am very sorry that I ever bought this car. It is a serious death trap!!!!!!!

Filed Apr 27, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · SC

In october of 2003, a technical bulletin was issued on my car. The bulletin reads: 2002 mitsubishi lancer 02 - blower [part 138110] tsb no: 0355008 the federal safety agency id: , october 01, 2003 : replacement: summary: debris (such as leaves, etc) entering the front cowl area may clog the evaporator housing drain tube. If this occurs, the evaporator housing may fill up with condensation and overflow into the passenger compartment, and into the blower mot...in the first quarter of 2005, I paid my local mitsubishi dealer $310.50 to replace my blower motor because debris had clogged the motor causing it to short out and resulting in leaving my passenger floor board under an inch of water. My car now, is out of warranty. However, if I had known there was a problem, I could have bought a filter to prevent this problem. My question is: at what point does the federal safety agency make technical service bulletins into recalls? It is absolutely absurd when my dealer informs me that tsb's are only fixed if a customer complains about the car. It's just plain wrong for mitsubishi to know there is something potentially wrong with your car and not inform you of it. For instance there is another bulletin on the temperature control knob in my car. Now, I read these tsb's and it just so happened that mitsubishi was aware of the problem when my car was under warranty. I had to replace the cv boot, the valve covers and seals, and when I got the blower motor replaced I had to replace the thermostat and redo my coolant. I'm also currently having a problem with my cruise control. Every time I crank my car up, my cruise control is already on. I turn the cruise control off, and turn my car back on, and the cruise control is on again. I was two days before paying $600 for the torque converter to be replaced, and finally a recall was issued, thank god! How many things have to go wrong with my car for it to be deemed a lemon and made to be sent back? Lord, somebody please reply back to me and tell me what to do!?!

Filed Mar 15, 2006 · Acceleration, Suspension · 500 miles · OH

On 5 occasions now when I hit the brakes to slow down the engine accelerates on it's own revving extremely loud. If I don't put the car in park and turn off the ignition it feels like it will take off and cause a severe accident. I bought this car brand new and this first occurred about 6 months after buying the vehicle. I brought it to the dealership and they found nothing wrong. I continued to drive vehicle and a few months later happened again. It happens sporadically but when it happens it is quite scary. Now my service engine light is on and autozone printed me a receipt that indicated there is a malfunction in the turbine speed sensor. I am going to give this a try and hope it resolves my issue. It seems this has been a malfunction since they sold me the vehicle. I am very disappointed with this vehicle.. The vehicle also has issues with the rear suspension.. It sounds like I am driving an huge school bus... It squeaks and sometimes sounds like the back end is going to fall apart...

Filed Sep 4, 2005 · Acceleration · IL

I purchased my vehicle in 2003 and was happy with it's performance up until september of 2005. On three different occasions I have experienced the car making a funny noise and accelerating on it's own. I took the car to have it serviced and was told by the service repair person that no one had ever reported having a problem of this kind. Since I have had the vehicle repaired I do not feel comfortable driving it. I bought all new tires because I was told that my two front tires were starting to bald. It appears as though the car could be idled too high or something. Since I do not know that much about I have no idea what the problem could be. If mitsubishi does not know what is wrong with it there would be no way that I would even have a clue. I had my vehicle serviced by mitsubishi in september 2002. I was told that the vehicle was due for some computer upgrades which may or may not have caused the problem that I experienced with my vehicle. All I can say is that since I have had the car serviced it still feels as though it is accelerating when I am trying to slow down. I am now in the process of trying to pay off the vehicle so that I can trade it in for another make/model. Before this problem arose I had anticipated trading my lancer in for the new eclipse. I guess that I do not have to tell you that misubishi will be losing me as a customer. My vehicle is a mitsubishi lancer es 2002.

Filed Jun 25, 2004 · Acceleration · 17,400 miles · CA

While applying brakes vehicle accelerated. In order to slow the vehicle down consumer had to engage the vehicle into neutral, and shut the ignition off. *ak the vehicle was taken tot he dealer and put on the diagnostic computer. The technician indicated that no codes were displayed indicating a problem.

Filed Mar 13, 2003 · Acceleration · NY

The engine revved, and then experienced sudden acceleration.

Filed Feb 12, 2003 · Acceleration · FL

With the air condition on, the windows fogged up, which was believed to be from the outside of the windows, also the brake and accelerator pedal was designed too close together. Scc

Questions about the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer acceleration

Does the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer have acceleration problems?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the acceleration of the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, 7% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer acceleration problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 94,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer acceleration?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

Other 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

Visibility 26Airbags 23Engine 22Transmission 22Brakes 18Suspension 15Steering 12Body 7Fuel system 6Electrical 4Wheels 3Seat belts 2Seats 2Locks 1Tires 1

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