RoadVitals

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
37
Latest Aug 12, 2022
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
7
Latest Apr 5, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer, most frequently naming the airbags, suspension and body & structure categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 69 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1632.7%
  • Suspension918.4%
  • Body & structure510.2%
  • Exterior lighting48.2%
  • Brakes48.2%
  • Driver assistance48.2%
  • Visibility24.1%
  • Engine12.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V220000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Apr 5, 2018
17,120 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles that previously received a like-for-like passenger side frontal air bag inflator under recall 15V321 as interim remedy. Also recalled are 2004-2006 Lancer vehicles located in Guam or Saipan that previously received or never received a new inflator under 15V321 or 17V569. These passenger side frontal air bag inflators may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to explode in the event of an air bag deployment.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-005.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-18-005View on NHTSA.gov
17V569000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Sep 14, 2017
66,001 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-17-001. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-321.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-17-004View on NHTSA.gov
16V458000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Jun 23, 2016
194,674 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
The risk: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-16-003View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 37
Suspension
Filed Aug 12, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, she heard abnormal loud grinding sounds coming from underneath the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that her mother had informed her that she had seen an unknown part hanging underneath the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she would need to take the vehicle to their location for recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V458000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,550.

NHTSA ID
11478946
Incident
Aug 8, 2022
Mileage
164,550 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 17, 2022

When doing routine repair on the control arms, it was noted that there is a ginormous rust hole in the subframe where the control arm connects to aforementioned subframe

NHTSA ID
11457188
Incident
Mar 1, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Mar 8, 2022

My lancer has very bad rear end chassis rust where the rear subframe is fastened to the monobody. In this area all the suspension components and rear drivetrain are located. Damage occurs due to salt and other corrosive agents that are used for roads in Connecticut to melt snow. These agents rust the car where Mitsubishi failed to properly protect the steel under the rear end of the vehicle. It is widely observed that the 03-06 lancer has from factory a poor to almost no anti rust agent applied to the lower rear chassis area of the car where the subframe crossmember is located that holds suspension components and rear differential. Currently under nhtsa campaign 16V458000, there is a safety recall for the front subframe crossmember due to rust damage. As for the rear of the car there most certainly should be a safety campaign as the rust in this area develops quicker and can cause a catastrophic failure.

NHTSA ID
11455652
Incident
Mar 8, 2020
Body & structure
Filed May 28, 2021

The contact owns a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while working on the vehicle, the contact noticed that there was a huge hole in the sub-frame due to rust. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and it was diagnosed that the sub-frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID
11418918
Incident
May 21, 2021
Mileage
196,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 28, 2020

REAR FRAME RAIL RUST. THE CAR STATED TO ACCUMULATE RUST ON THE FRAME RAILS OF THE CAR THAT CONNECTS THE REAR SUBFRAME AND REAR TOE ARM. FAILURE OF THESE AREAS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER DID A POOR JOB CORROSION PROOFING THIS AREA ON THIS MODEL YEAR. THE CAR HAD A 7 YEAR/ 100,000 RUST WARRANTY IN WHICH I AM SURE THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED WITHIN THAT COVERAGE BUT WAS HARD TO NOTICE UNTIL RUST STARTED FORMING ON THE OUTSIDE FRAME WHICH IS HARD TO SEE WITHOUT JACKING UP THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326274
Incident
Sep 1, 2012
Mileage
99,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 29, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM SEEING OUT THE WINDOW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO GALLERY MITSUBISHI-CORONA (LOCATED AT 2550 WARDLOW RD, CORONA, CA 92882, (951) 372-0008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID
11282915
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
143,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 11, 2019

AFTER THEY CHANGE THE AIRBAGS FROM THE WARNING LIGHTS IS ON AND DEALERS CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM?

NHTSA ID
11254805
Incident
Jun 14, 2019
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Aug 20, 2019

REAR CHASSIS MEMBER (A FRAME RAIL) CORRODED CLOSE TO THE POINT WHERE REAR SUBFRAME IS CONNECTED. IT IS NOW A SAFETY CONCERN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT MAY CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO DETACH. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ON RUST OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME HOWEVER IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN INADEQUATE UNDERCARRIAGE PROTECTION

NHTSA ID
11245354
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
116,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TIN-25-00-013

AIR BAGS

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Puerto Rico addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

TIN-25-00-011

AIR BAGS

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Texas addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

TIN-25-00-005

AIR BAGS

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Ohio addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

TIN-25-00-004

AIR BAGS

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Louisiana addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

TIN-24-00-011

AIR BAGS

This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that MMNA is launching a social media campaign targeting vehicle owners with open Takata recalls.

TIN-24-00-008

AIR BAGS

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Arizona addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Lancer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017601—
2016302153.5
2015231149.2
2014160149.1
2013501—
2012191042.3
2011343045.0
2010516052.9
2009988054.2
2008915052.0
2007230—
2006Viewing377053.2
2005246265.5
2004807260.1
20031996156.0
20021484056.5
2000100—
1996100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.