2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Visibility Problems

THIS IS WITH REFERENCE TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL, THE KNOB TO TURN SYSTEM TEMPERATURE FROM COLD TO HEAT, WITH TIME THE KNOB GOT STIFF AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN FROM COLD TO HEAT, FOR YEARS I HAVE HAD TO PLAY WITH IT EVERY TIME I NEEDED TO USE IT TO SWITCH TO THE TEMPERATURE I DESIRED ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN AND WHEN GOING FROM SUMMER TO WINTER. FINALLY THE KNOB BROKE OFF AND NOW I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO TURN IT MAKING IT "IMPOSSIBLE" TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THEY GET FOGGY FROM THE HUMIDITY OR EARLY IN THE MORNING DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS WHICH RESULTS IN UNSAFE DRIVING AS IT IMPAIRS MY VISION TO THE POINT THAT I NEED TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH IS QUITE DANGEROUS. ONLY THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST WORKS BECAUSE IT IS CONTROLLED BY A DIFFERENT KNOB. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO A GREAT AMOUNT OF OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER OWNERS, WITH MODELS BETWEEN 2002-2005 AND FOR THE EXACT KNOB, THE ONE FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL. THERE ARE 2 OTHER KNOBS TO CONTROL THE FAN AND DIRECTION OF AIR THAT WORK PERFECTLY AND NO REPORTS ON BEING STUCK OR BROKEN ON THOSE TWO. IT SEEMS THAT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IS THE ONLY ONE GETTING STIFF AND BREAKING OFF WITH TIME, SO IT MORE THAN LIKELY IS A FACTORY DEFECT WITH THE KNOB OR THE WHOLE PART. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOP WHEN RAINING AND SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS BUT I AM NOT SURE IF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME GOOD LUCK. IS MITSUBISHI ALREADY TAKING ANY ACTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? WHAT CAN WE, AS CUSTOMERS, DO TO GET IT FIXED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10683948

Incident

Jun 29, 2005

Mileage

20,000 mi

CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL/SYSTEM GOT STIFF TO TURN FROM COLD TO HEAT AND EVENTUALLY THE KNOB/STEM OF CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL BROKE. NOW IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS WHICH RESULTS UNSAFE DRIVING. I HAVE HAPPENED TO KNOW FROM INTERNET THAT THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TO MANY MITSUBISHI LANCER 2002-2005 CUSTOMERS . MITSUBISHI IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THESE CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650606

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

HEAT/AC SWITCH STUCK.CAN NOT GET HEAT OR DEFROST IN COLD AND/OR ICY CONDITIONS, MAKING FOR VERY UNSAFE DRIVING.A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED TO MITSUBISHI DEALERS. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT HELP DEFRAY THE REPAIR COST CLAIMING VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY.THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS IGNORED. I IMAGINE THOUSANDS OF THIS MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP ME GET SOME SATISFACTION IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10640022

Incident

Sep 29, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE A/C KNOB IN THE CAR BROKE OFF TOWARD THE END OF THE SUMMER 2013. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO SWITCH FROM AIR CONDITIONER TO HEAT. FOR A WHILE PLIERS DID THE TRICK. WHEN I GOT A QUOTE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE THE KNOB I WAS QUOTED $1800. NOW IT IS WINTER. IT IS FREEZING. I HAVE NO HEAT. I WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE BECAUSE OF FOGGY WINDOWS. I HAD NO DEFROSTER BECAUSE I CAN'T TURN ON THE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554734

Incident

Nov 28, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEVERS FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROLS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST HIS WINDOWS WHEN NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE HEATER CLIMATE CONTROL LEVERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 170,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503161

Incident

Mar 13, 2013

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE KNOB TO ADJUST MY HEATING AND COOLING BROKE OFF. NOW I AM STUCK WITH FREEZING COLD AIR BLOWING ALL YEAR ROUND. THIS EFFECTS MY VISIBILITY AT TIMES BECAUSE I CAN NOT USE DEFROSTER. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE UNIT WOULD BE $300+ LABOR. SEEING AS THOUGH THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE WHOLE DASH APART TO FIX, IT IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I HAVE READ ONLINE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. I THINK IF MITSUBISHI GAVE US A BOGUS PART THAT IS GUARANTEED TO BREAK, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE/RECALL IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494418

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE AIR AND HEAT FLOW KNOB BROKE OFF AS I TURNED IT FROM COLD TO HEAT THIS MORNING. NOW I CANT HEAT UP THE CAR IT IS STUCK ON COLD. DUE TO THIS THE DEFROST WILL NOT WORK EITHER. I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY CAR AS OF THIS MORNING DUE TO THE KNOB BREAKING OFF AS I TURNED IT. PART OF THE WHITE PLASTIC PIECE THAT ATTACHES ON THE INSIDE IS NOW ATTACHED TO THE KNOB THAT BROKE OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475003

Incident

Sep 11, 2012

Mileage

129,000 mi

THE AC/HEATER CONTROLS ON THE DASH, THE KNOB WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO CHANGE THE AIR FROM HOT TO COLD. THE KNOB HAS NOW BROKEN OFF. I AM FINDING THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX. WE TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY WILL ADJUST THE LEVER AS THE SEASONS CHANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443394

Incident

Jan 19, 2010

YES WE HAVE A 2004 MITSIBISHI LANCER. THE HEATER KNOB WILL NOT TURN AND IT EVENTUALLY BROKE TRYING TO TURN. JUST LOOKING OVER THE INTERNET THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THIS IS A CONTINUALLY PROBLEM. HERE IS 20 DEGREES AND WE HAVE NOT HEATER DUE TO THIS DEFECT. FROM WHAT I AM BEING TOLD IT WILL TAKE $800 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CARE TO HAVE MINIMUM PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442718

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

THE TEMPERATURE SELECTION KNOB GETS STUCK IN THE 'COLD' POSITION. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE AIR BOX INSIDE OF THE DASH WHERE THE AIR BLENDER DOOR IS STUCK. IT MAKES IT DANGEROUS WHEN HEAT IS NEEDED TO DEFROST THE FRONT WINDOW TO SEE. IT IS ALWAYS LIKE THIS AND HAS BEEN FOR 2 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365860

Incident

Nov 12, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

HEATER AND A/C CONTROL KNOW IS TOO STIFF TO TURN REQUIRING ME TO ADJUST IT MANUALLY UNDER THE DASH, WHICH IS DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362348

Incident

Oct 16, 2010

I TURNED THE KNOB TO HEAT. IT WAS PRETTY STIFF BUT IT WOULD MOVE TO COLD TEMPERATURE FINE. I TRIED IT AGAIN AND THE KNOB AND PART OF THE SHAFT BROKE OFF. I HAD TO DRIVE TO WORK IN THE COLD. GOOD THING I WORKED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AWAY. TODAY I WAS SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST. THAT'S WHEN I SAW A COMMENT SAYING THERE WAS A TSB ISSUE ON 04 MODEL LANCERS. LUCKILY I FOUND THIS WEBSITE. HOPE MITSUBISHI WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, ITS OCTOBER AND I REALLY NEED MY HEATER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359620

Incident

Oct 7, 2010

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND BROKE OFF. THIS MADE FOR A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WOULDN'T DEFROST. I'M ALSO NOW UNABLE TO USE THE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10357295

Incident

Sep 24, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

HEATER CONTROL KNOB WAS HARD TO TURN SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE AND EVENTUALLY BROKE OFF. NOW I AM FORCED TO ADJUST TEMPERATURE USING PLIERS (OR SUFFER PAYING $1,000 TO FIX PROBLEM). NOT EASY TO ADJUST WITH PLIERS WHILE DRIVING AND EXPERIENCING A CHANGE IN WEATHER CONDITIONS. NOW ALSO FEARFUL OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST TEMPERATURE WITH PLIERS. KNOWN DEFECT WILL NOT BE REPAIRED OR COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320918

Incident

Sep 24, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

I OWN A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCE RALLIART SEDAN. THE AIR CONTROL SWITCH (KNOB USED TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE) BEGAN STICKING/CATCHING ABOUT IN ABOUT 2006 (MY CAR WAS ALREADY OUT OF THE WARRANTY TIME FRAME DUE TO MILEAGE). THE SWITCH THEN BROKE COMPLETELY OFF IN 2008. TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATING CONTROL UNIT, MODIFY (CUT) THE DAMPER, AND INSTALL A NEW LEVER WHICH COSTS OVER $1600. I FOUND THAT THIS SAME HEATER CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN USED SINCE 2002 IN LANCERS, GALANTS, ENDEAVORS, AND OTHER MODELS - ALL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE - IT EVENTUALLY FAILS AND THE OWNER IS STUCK PAYING MORE THAN $1600 TO FIX WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN LATTER MODELS OR SIMPLY FIXED WITH A NEW SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311355

Incident

Oct 17, 2008

Mileage

68,500 mi

CLIMATE CONTROL KNOBS ARE STUCK IN PLACE AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THIS STARTED OUT AS AN ANNOYANCE AND QUICKLY BECAME A LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT WHEN I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE DOWN A WINDY MOUNTAIN ROAD AT NIGHT IN A HEAVY SNOWSTORM WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS. MITSUBISHI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM VIA A TSB, AND RESEARCH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003-2004 LANCERS. MY LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND QUOTED THE FIX AROUND $1,300. I COULD HAVE EASILY DIED BECAUSE OF THIS, AND I AM UTTERLY AMAZED THAT THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN NO RECALL FOR SUCH A DANGEROUS AND WIDESPREAD DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286361

Incident

Oct 3, 2009

HEATER KNOB BROKE OFF DUE TO LAZY ENGINEERING ON MITSU'S PART. CALLED AND THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE COSTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257798

Incident

Dec 22, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

THERE IS A FLAW IN THE HEATER ON LANCER AND OUTLANDER MODELS. MITSUBISHI HAS ADMITTED IT BY SERVICE BULLETIN. AS I UNDERSTAND A FUNCTIONAL HEATER AND DEFROSTER IS REQUIRED BY NHTSA. I LIKE EVERY OTHER OWNER OF SUCH CARS ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY HEAT AND THE KNOB SNAPPED OFF. NOW THERE IS NO HEAT OR WINDSHIELD DEFROST. OVER 1000.00 IS NEEDED FOR REPAIR AND IT'S HAPPENING TO ALL OF THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255387

Incident

Nov 10, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE CONTROL FOR THE HEATER/AC IS HARD TO TURN. HAS BEEN SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BROKE AND NOW HAVE NO DEFROSTERS TO KEEP WINDOWS DEFROSTED DURING WINTER MONTHS. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. AFFECTS VISIBILITY AND SAFETY. MITSUBISHI IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. WHEN TALKED WITH DEALER, HE KNEW THE PROBLEM AND PRICE OF REPAIR, WITHOUT SEEING THE VEHICLE. MANY CONSUMERS ONLINE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHI SINCE 2002. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE TO HAVE THIS RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249063

Incident

Nov 17, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

MY HOT/COOL KNOB IS BROKEN. MY HEATER FAN ONLY WORKS ON 4, AC ONLY RUNS ON 1,2 OR3. I ALSO HAD WATER ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR DUE TO CONDENSATION FROM THE AC NOT PROPERLY DRAINING. THE WATER ALSO GOT INTO MY BLOWER MOTOR, WHICH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED. WILL BE REPLACING HEATER RESISTOR THIS WEEK, SO I CAN USE MY AC AGAIN. HOT/COOL KNOB WILL COST AT LEAST $1000 TO FIX, SO IT'S STAYING BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234344

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

52,000 mi

A/C, DEFROST CONTROL HAS BEEN HARD TO CHANGE SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. PLASTIC CONTROL FOR CONNECTION OF KNOB BROKE. CALLED CLOSEST DEALER (OVER 60 MILES AWAY) AND THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE. COST FOR REPAIRS QUOTED AT OVER $600 PARTS PLUS LABOR. WITHOUT REPAIR CAR CAN NOT SAFELY BE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN THIS AREA. *JB

NHTSA ID

10189143

Incident

Apr 27, 2007

Mileage

65,601 mi

HEATER KNOB STICKS, PREVENTING AC ADJUSTMENT TO HEAT FROM COOL. THIS PREVENTS DEFOGGER SYSTEM FROM EFFECTIVELY WORKING HAMPERING VISIBILITY, WHEN IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178485

Incident

Jan 10, 2007

Mileage

73,249 mi