RoadVitals

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
10
Latest Aug 14, 2014
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.
7%
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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 10 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistanceEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 14, 2014
Crash reported

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? *TR

NHTSA ID
10622408
Incident
Jun 10, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 4, 2010

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. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10316619
Incident
Feb 23, 2010
Mileage
137,120 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 26, 2007

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
10186160
Incident
Mar 24, 2007
Mileage
94,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 10, 2006
Crash reported

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!!!!!!! *JB

NHTSA ID
10170446
Incident
Sep 18, 2006
Mileage
45,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Apr 27, 2006

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 NHTSA 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 NHTSA 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!?! *NM

NHTSA ID
10156291
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Mar 15, 2006

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...*JB

NHTSA ID
10152793
Incident
Mar 9, 2006
Mileage
500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 4, 2005

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135285
Incident
Aug 30, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 25, 2004

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. *NM

NHTSA ID
10075543
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
17,400 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 13, 2003

THE ENGINE REVVED, AND THEN EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10011647
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistance
Filed Feb 12, 2003

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 *JB

NHTSA ID
10006186

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 .