2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after a while the system would erase any safety information used to track mileage and only show the GPS feature on the digital screen with information from 2004. The contact stated he used the digital screen for the safety features. Upon further inspection, the battery would be drained at an abnormal rate while using the Bluetooth features, and the Bluetooth would not work outside of the local dealer parking lot. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the digital screen and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11611449

Incident

May 15, 2024

Mileage

98,000 mi

We had car at a car dealer and the manufacturer declined doing the recall on the car for corrison on the front crossmember, telling us due to car has a total loss record on Carfax. The vehicle total loss record was for a accident that didn't effect that part of the car that's under recall, it was due to vehicle repairs were more then what car was worth. The piece I think they call it crossmember has rust holes through it and is about to come apart at the rusted holes on the part. We buy the car JA3AU86U18U016308 in 2022 for our daughter to drive to college. Just finding out when we took it into the car place to perform this recall they won't do the recall because of Mitsubishi. I filled this out for my dad, he bought car for me.

NHTSA ID

11560732

Incident

Dec 12, 2023

The dealership that is repairing the drive belt recall, is attempting to charge me for the replacement of a damaged pulley.

NHTSA ID

11520768

Incident

May 6, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to roll out of the road and she was unable to steer back into the road. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle rolled over into a ditch. The contact stated no air bags deployed. The contact stated the driver hit her head and sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V279000 (Structure, Suspension). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

NHTSA ID

11489715

Incident

Oct 5, 2022

Mileage

116,000 mi

Our car crashed after getting off the highway in NJ. This appears to be related to Safety Recall Report 20V-279. The cross member has completely rusted and the driver side control arm came off, crashing the car and severely damaging the car, with loss of control. I have contacted Mitsubishi Motors but have received no response from them. There was no warning sign, and the car was on the highway at highway speeds before an exit ramp was taken when the car crashed.

NHTSA ID

11461954

Incident

Apr 13, 2022

The airbags light came on after I bought the car and I am afraid of I get in an accident they will not deploy my mechanic said I would have to go to a car dealership about it... The brakes also fail if I try to stop abruptly they go to the floor and do not stop the vehicle... The brakes are the worst when I am driving slowly and try to come to a stop. I have taken my car to the dealership and was told that my brakes are in good condition and the mechanic didn't understand why the car was having issues stopping.

NHTSA ID

11449426

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Air bag light turn on and off

NHTSA ID

11425909

Incident

Jul 19, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 25 MPH, WHEN THE CROSS MEMBER SNAPPED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND JUMPED THE CURB. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED RIGHT THUMB AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICATION ATTENTION. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THE CROSS MEMBER, UNKNOWN TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT WAS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V279000 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION), HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TO UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ID

11398893

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS -TEARING BUSHINGS, TORN BOOTS BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS - TORN BOOTS TIMING COVER SEPARATE

NHTSA ID

11394927

Incident

Feb 2, 2021

Mileage

136,000 mi

I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. PARKED AND FOUND ROTTEN PARTS ON TIRE. MECHANIC SAID IT CANNOT BE FIXED. EVERYTHING ROTTED. NEEDS WHOLE NEW FRAME. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.THANK GOD I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. NOW I HAVE NOTHING BUT AN EXISTING CAR LOAN FOR IT.

NHTSA ID

11385384

Incident

Dec 20, 2020

Mileage

174,000 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING THE LIGHT STATING SLOW DOWN APPEARS ON DASHBOARD I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TURN OFF ENGINE AND WAIT BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MINS BEFORE IM ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING ON THE 2008 ,2009 AND 2016 FROM MY UNDERSTANDING ITS THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE USED ON ON THOSE YEARS OF VEHICLES NOW WEATHER OR NOT ITS MECHANICAL OR POOR DESIGNED TRANSMISSIONS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE PUT A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS

NHTSA ID

11376734

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

30 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V279000 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED SUNNYSIDE MITSUBISHI (7630 PEARL RD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH 44130; (440) 243-7711) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11374326

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

MY SRS LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID IT WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AND IS ONLY TO REMOVE THE LIGHT...BUT THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD STILL DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE WERE REAR-ENDED (WHICH WOULD NOT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS) BUT IT PUSHED US INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US (WHICH SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS). SEEING AS THIS LIGHT JUST CAME ON WAY BEFORE ANY ACCIDENTS AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANYTHING WE DID, I BELIEVE IT TO BE FAULTY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING. YET, MITSUBISHI HAS NEVER BEEN PUSHED TO MAKE THEIR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FLAW INTO A SAFETY RECALL AND EXPECTS TO JUST MAKE MONEY OFF MITUBISHI OWNERS COMING IN TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11363572

Incident

Oct 14, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 20V279000 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SERRA HONDA (951 INTERSTATE PKWY, AKRON, OH 44312) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONTACT LOSS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE LOWERED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM SHORKEY MITSUBISHI (13339 RTE 30, IRWIN, PA 15642) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED AND DAMAGED THE CROSSMEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATE 32,393.

NHTSA ID

11362274

Incident

Sep 22, 2020

Mileage

32,393 mi

THE CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED AND SPRING RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. HAD REPAIRED IN MARCH OF 2019. SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL. SENT INVOICE AND RECEIPT TO MITSUBISHI HOWEVER THEY ARE SAYING IT DID NOT MEET TIME FRAME FOR REPAIR AND ARE REFUSING TO REFUND ANY OF MY REPAIR COSTS.

NHTSA ID

11361718

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSSMEMBER BEAMS WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAX MATSON MITSUBISHI DEALER LOCATED AT 3990 OGDEN AVE, AURORA, IL 60504, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V279000 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO PROVIDE A REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE OVER TWO YEARS OLD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,727.

NHTSA ID

11348390

Incident

Mar 16, 2018

Mileage

116,727 mi

HAS ACTIVE RECALL I WANT THE SUNROOF REPLACE NOT JUST INSPECTED I WANT IT FIXED TO AVOID FUTURE PROBLEM OF FLYING OFFER LEAKING

NHTSA ID

11343120

Incident

Aug 3, 2020

Mileage

15 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED FROM THE CENTER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CROSSMEMBER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THAT THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) WAS FOR VEHICLE MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 AND NOT FOR 2008. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID

11319966

Incident

Mar 30, 2020

Mileage

168,000 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER WITH 163K MILES ON IT FROM A THIRD PARTY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR TWO OPEN RECALLS. THE DEALER CALLED ME THE NEXT MORNING AND EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE SUBFRAME IS CORRODED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN FACT THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN AND THE PART BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE I CAN'T DRIVE OR SELL. THE REPAIR ITSELF IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. THE SUBFRAME IS PART OF THE FRAME AND IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM AND SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFEAT AS SHOWN IN THE RECALL FOR CANADA ON 2008-2013 LANCER MODELS. I CALLED THE FACTORY AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. I ASKED FOR A MEETING BETWEEN THE DEALERSHIP AND A FACTORY REP TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE SOLUTION BUT NOTHING HAS MATERIALIZED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LANCERS ON THE ROADS TODAY AND I WOULD HATE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE CORRODED SUBFRAMES WHERE THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS COULD FALL TO THE GROUND.

NHTSA ID

11311931

Incident

Feb 26, 2020

Mileage

162,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK THIS MORNING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT A DRASTIC PULL TO THE LEFT. I GET OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOK AT ALL SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AND DON'T NOTICE ANYTHING RIGHT AWAY. THEN I NOTICE MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT. I LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE TO FIND THE SUB FRAME ROTTED AND RUSTED AWAY FROM THE CONTROL ARM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS CAR HAS 123K MILES AND BEING A 2008 CAR, JUST 1 YEAR LATER THAN THE RECALLS CURRENTLY UP TO 2007 FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 2008 VEHICLES AS WELL DUE TO THE INSANE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SPECIFIC SUB FRAME ROTTING ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11222733

Incident

Jun 26, 2019

Mileage

123,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE CROSSMEMBER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11220672

Incident

Jun 14, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

DURING MY LAST TWO VISIT WITH TECHNICIAN (LAST ONE WITH MITSUBISHI DEALER, AND ONE BEFORE WITH OTHER SERVICE PLACE), THE VEHICLE TECHNICIAN NOTICE EXCESSIVELY RUSTED CROSS-MEMBER. THE TECHNICIAN AT MITSUBISHI DEALER ALSO PUT THE NOTE IN "COMPUTERIZED VEHICLE REPORT". WHEN I ASKED THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT HOW BAD IS THIS AND HOW TO FIX THIS, HE MENTIONED THAT OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER VEHICLES ARE AFFECTING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING VEHICLES YEAR BY YEAR, SO HOPE THEY WILL RECALL THIS MODEL TOO. AND FOR SAFETY, I NEED TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP EYE AND NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO ANY CHANGE TO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AS THIS MAY CRACK AND I AM END UP IN ACCIDENT. *TR*JB

NHTSA ID

11220553

Incident

May 28, 2019

Mileage

139,923 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V070100 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. RICARDO CABALLERO MITSUBISHI AUTO CORP (LOCATED AT 10, 4 CLL 5, COAMO, 00769, PUERTO RICO, +1 787-303-4457) CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11195851

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

BRAKES ON VEHICLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STARTED TO MAKE AN AIR SUCKING SOUND TOOK A COUPLE MINUTES TO PUMP THE BRAKES BACK UP BEFORE COULD START DRIVING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11165560

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

235,000 mi

TUESDAY, 11/27/18, MORNING MY CAR (100,00 TOTAL MILES DRIVEN) STARTED TO MAKE A PERIODIC SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO WORK. I THEN TOOK IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT SAME MORNING TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM MY DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/RECALLS/MITSUBISHI-LANCER-2008/. ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE, MY CAR HAS A RECALL FOR THE DRIVE BELT AND PULLEYS. SO I WENT ON MITSUBISHI'S RECALL WEBSITE TO PUT IN MY VID NUMBER, BUT IT WAS SHOWING THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. SO I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPAIR MY CAR ACCORDING TO THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS SHOWN ON THE WEBSITE THAT HE REFERRED ME TO, WHICH INVOLVES REPLACING THE DRIVE BELT, PULLEYS, AND DRIVE BELT TENSIONER. IT SEEMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NEXT DAY (11/28) ON MY BACK HOME FROM WORK, I STARTED HEARING ANOTHER NOISE AFTER COMING OFF THE FREEWAY. I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVE BELT HAD BEEN TORN. PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED PICTURE. SO I CONTACTED THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO LOOK INTO IT AGAIN. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVE BELT AGAIN, BUT RECOMMENDED THAT I TRY TO CONTACT MITSUBISHI AGAIN. ACCORDING TO THEM, THE SYMPTOMS MATCH THE INFORMATION IN THE RECALL, BUT AGAIN, MITSUBISHI'S WEBSITE SAYS THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, I HAD MY DRIVE BELT AND BATTERY REPLACED. IS MITSUBISHI IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING A LETTER BACK IN 2014 ABOUT ANY RECALL, BUT I MAY NOT BE REMEMBERING CORRECTLY. IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEE THE HISTORY OF RECALLS THAT WERE DONE ON MY CAR? THANK YOU, (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11155343

Incident

Nov 27, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi