RoadVitals

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest May 9, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 148 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
23
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
19

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed May 9, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY HUSBAND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND OVER CORRECTED HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND A TREE AND THIS PUSHED HIM BACK INTO THE ROAD AND SPIN SHOOTING HIM INTO ANOTHER EMBANKMENT AND THIS RESULTED IN HIM BEING FORCED BACKWARDS AND INTO ANOTHER DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD HITTING A MAILBOX AND ANOTHER DITCH. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BROKE AS IF HE WAS LAYING DOWN TO SLEEP BUT IT WAS BROKE INTO THIS POSITION. HE HIT HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND INJURED HIS EYE SOME HOW AND THE HOSPITAL SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. WHY DID HIS SEAT GET THROWED BACK LIKE THAT AND BREAK PLEASE EXPLAIN. I COULD HAVE LOST MY HUSBAND..

NHTSA ID
10984506
Incident
May 5, 2017
Mileage
211,186 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Oct 8, 2012
Crash reported

TO AVOID CONTACT WITH A DEER I HIT THE BRAKES SLIDING INTO A UTILITY POLE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO VEHICLE NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10479315
Incident
Oct 8, 2012
Mileage
180,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 31, 2011
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE METAL RAILING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. RVK

NHTSA ID
10422734
Incident
Jul 16, 2008
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 29, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A CRASH. SHE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND HER VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED ON TOP OF ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES AND CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE LUNGS, NECK TRAUMA, AND IMPALED GLASS IN HER HANDS AND LEGS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE TWO PARKED VEHICLES SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF UPDATED 09/23/10 UPDATED 10/03/10 *BF UPDATED 11/03/10*JB

NHTSA ID
10256693
Incident
Sep 22, 2007
Airbags
Filed May 29, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS IN MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MILES AN HOUR AND HIT A YUKON HEAD ON. MY CAR IS COMPLETELY CRUMPLED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR FRONT END ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE (THE PREVIOUS ONE IN 2002) AND BOTH TIMES, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. NOTHING WAS DONE BY MITSUBISHI EITHER TIME TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM BOTH BUT I WORRY THAT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229237
Incident
May 22, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 7, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY CAR STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS ALSO HIT FROM THE SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211154
Incident
Nov 12, 2007
Airbags
Filed Dec 7, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS 2002 MITS . LANCER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR CAUSING IT TO HIT A CEMENT RETAINING WALL FROM THE FRONT AND SIDES AND NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SURGERIES FROM THE FAILED AIR BAGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211150
Incident
Nov 5, 2003
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

1) I WAS DRIVING SOUTH DOWN THE ROAD AT 25-30 MPH, AND ANOTHER CAR WAS WAITING TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING LOT ON MY RIGHT, HE WAS GOING TO TURN LEFT (NORTH). - HE SAYS HE DIDN'T SEE ME AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I T-BONED HIM. 2)HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT MINE DID NOT. THE ACCIDENT WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE CAR IS GOING TO THE BODY SHOP TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10198266
Incident
Jul 31, 2007
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 13, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE, AS I PROCEEDED TO TURN, A CAR AT HIGH SPEED RAN THE RED LIGHT HIT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE BUMPER CAUSING THE CAR TO SPIN,THE CAR WAS TOTALED DURING THE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10165365
Incident
Aug 2, 2006
Mileage
38,200 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 13, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS TRAVELING AT 30-34 MPH AND A INTREPID PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I SLAMMED HEAD ON TO HER DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. MY SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK RESULTING IN ME HITTING MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY RESULTING IN MY PELVIC BONE TO SHIFT AND ME TO RECEIVE WHIPLASH AND A BULDGE IN MY LOWER BACK. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH RESULTED IN MY CAR BEING TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10159737
Incident
Apr 5, 2005
Mileage
49,176 mi
AirbagsHeating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Feb 8, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WENT INTO A DITCH (WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD) PASSENGER DOOR HIT A POLE, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND PASSENGER FRACTURED HER COLLAR BONE. THIS HAPPENED IN 2005. ALSO THE BLOW MOTOR HAS RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, I FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT WATER FLOWS INTO THE MOTOR THROUGH THE WIPERS. IT COST OVER $400. TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149693
Incident
Apr 6, 2005
Mileage
38,003 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 7, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, PULLING OUT WHEN A TRUCK "T-BONED" THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. CAR WAS TOTALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10102284
Incident
Feb 16, 2003
Airbags
Filed Aug 27, 2004
Crash reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY 8/26/04 AND NEITHER OF MY FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WITH THE IMPACT THAT THE CAR TOOK THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY! *AK

NHTSA ID
10088676
Incident
Aug 26, 2004
Airbags
Filed Jun 21, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET IN MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND AS I APPROACHED A GREEN LIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER OF AN ACURA WAS NOT STOPPING FOR HIS RED LIGHT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES BUT UNFORTUNATELY I HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS CAR. THE ACCEDENT CAUSED MY CAR TO TURN 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AFTER CHECKING ON MY PASSENGER AND THATS WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY PASSENGER AND I WERE BOTH INJURED AND ARE BEING TREATED FOR INJURIES. I AM NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF MY VEHICLE IN THAT IT FAILED TO PROVIDE THE PROTECTION THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE. IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED MY PASSENGER AND I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THROWN AROUND LIKE RAGDOLLS IN THE VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10078567
Incident
Jun 13, 2004
Mileage
44,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 3, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 33 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10072000
Incident
Apr 26, 2004
Mileage
49,090 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 23, 2004
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, BUT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *LA THE DRIVER DIDN'T SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. CONSUMER QUESTIONED WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. (FATHER ON BEHALF ON HIS DAUGHTER). *PH

NHTSA ID
10061115
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jan 22, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE 'T-BONED' A TAXI CAUSING EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
10054650
Incident
Dec 7, 2003
Mileage
30,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR HEAD-ON COLLISION INTO A DITCH. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10022700
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 29, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

CAR WAS HIT ON SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN DEATH OF PASSENGER. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10013663
Incident
Jul 13, 2002
Airbags
Filed Dec 17, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT HER. THE DUAL AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID
10001086
Incident
Dec 2, 2002
Airbags
Filed Oct 22, 2002
Crash reported

CONSUMER STATES TRAVELLING APPROX 25-30MPH AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

NHTSA ID
8021333
Incident
Oct 20, 2002
Airbags
Filed Oct 2, 2002
Crash reported

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NLM

NHTSA ID
8019997
Airbags
Filed Jun 28, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION,NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012943
Incident
Jun 18, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .