RoadVitals

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
12
Latest Feb 6, 2021
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.
13%
of 91 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.
0
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 the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 steering

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

Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 6, 2021

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
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 29, 2020

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
Steering
Filed Sep 29, 2020

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
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 26, 2019

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
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 2, 2018

WHILE DRIVING ON BACK STREET THE CAR STARTED PULLING DRAMATICALLY TO THE LEFT. ON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS NOTICED THAT WHERE THE WHEEL CONNECTS TO THE SUBFRAME THERE WAS EXCESSIVE ROT THE POINT THE WHEEL WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SUBFRAME. CONTACTED MITSUBISHI. THEY SAID THE LANCER (AND OTHER MODELS) HAD A RECALL ON EXCESSIVE SUBFRAME ROT BUT ONLY YEARS 2002 TO 2007 FOR THE LANCER. MINE BEING 2008 IS NOT RECALLED. I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS $2000. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SUBFRAME HOLDS THE WHEELS ON, AND THE ENGINE IN PLACE AND IT HAD A CATISTROPIC FAILURE WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND LOSS OF LIFE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS OR I COULD HAVE INFORMED MY MECHANIC TO CAREFULLY LOOK FOR SUBFRAME ROT (MOST INSPECTIONS ARE JUST BY SITE). HAD ANYONE HIT THIS SUBFRAME WITH A HAMMER THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN IT WAS DISSINTEGRATING. THE CAR DOES LOOK LIKE ITS RECALLED IN CANADA " TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL 2016317, WHICH WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 21, 2016. THE RECALL INVOLVES 64,305 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER AND LANCER MODELS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2003 AND 2013." MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS HAS INFORMED ME TODAY THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. FAILURE OF A SUBFRAME IS A VERY RARE EVENT. ITS CLEAR THIS SUBFRAME HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE LANCERS BUILT THE YEAR BEFORE. THE OUTLANDER ALSO HAS THE EXACT SAME SUBFRAME. THE DEALER HAS MY SUBFRAME IN STOCK BECAUSE ITS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE OUTLANDER (WHICH IS COVERED). I AM HOPING THEY REALIZE THAT NOT INFORMING CUSTOMERS OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD RESULT IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. INFORMING THE LANCER OWNERS UP TO 2013 (AS THEY DID IN CANADA) COULD SAVE LIVES.

NHTSA ID
11115419
Incident
Jul 27, 2018
Mileage
72,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 4, 2017

AT 50 KM/H, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OF 90 DEGREE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT FORWARD. SOME SOUND OF TIRE-METAL WAS BEING HEARD FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. WITH SOMEONE OUTSIDE, WE WERE SEEING AT LOW SPEED THAT THE WHEEL WAS ROTATING OFF AXIS AND EVEN TOUCHING THE CAR BODY. AFTER BEING TOWING TO A CANADIAN TIRE, THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS SO ROTTEN IT WAS ACTUALLY BREAKING IN TWO PARTS AND IT WAS SO DANGEROUS, HE COULD NOT LET ME GO WITHOUT PART REPLACEMENT. THE MECHANIC TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT OTHER LANCER HAD THE PROBLEM EVEN A 2009 LANCER. THEY REFERRED ME TO THE TRANSPORT CANADA RECALL # 2016317, HOWEVER THIS ONE IS ONLY FOR LANCER 2003 TO 2006 (AND ALSO OUTLANDERS). NOTE THAT MY PROBLEM WAS THE SAME CAR PART AS THE RECALL MENTIONED ABOVE. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP TO VERIFY THE CROSS MEMBER CAR PART VS THE OLDER MODEL AND THE PART NUMBER WAS DIFFERENT. I'M WONDERING HOW DIFFERENT FROM 2003 TO 2006 THE CART PART IS! THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT DODGE CALIBER HAS THE SAME CAR PART IN PROBLEM WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FOUND THIS ARTICLE RELATED TO THIS HTTPS://CHRYSLER.OEMDTC.COM/457/FRONT-AND-REAR-CROSSMEMBER-CORROSION-X69-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-2008-2012-DODGE-CALIBER-JEEP-COMPASSPATRIOT/2

NHTSA ID
11021345
Incident
Aug 27, 2017
Mileage
241,030 mi
SteeringSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Aug 21, 2008

MY CAR, MITSUBISHI LANCER GTS MODEL 2008 IS PULLING TO THE SIDE. I GOT THIS CAR NEW, IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT FROM THE BEGINNING. AFTER THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT, THE CAR IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE AMOUNT OF PULLING IS VERY BIG, FOR EXAMPLE IF, AT 60-65MPH I RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL IT ROTATES RIGHT INSTANTLY WITH A HALF A INCH, AND THE CAR CHANGES THE LANE TO THE RIGHT IN 3-4 SECONDS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR OR THE TIRES ARE WRONG, BUT THIS IS VERY SERIOOS SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. I'VE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR ISSUE, AND FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WITH MITSUBISHI LANCER GTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. SO I BELIEVE MITSUBISHI KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT JUST DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT. PLEASE SEE THIS LINK (15 PAGES): HTTP://FORUMS.EVOLUTIONM.NET/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=293784 . THANKS A LOT AND PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*TR

NHTSA ID
10239217
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
200 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 30, 2008

I HAVE HAD AN 08 MITSUBISHI LANCER GTS FOR A YEAR NOW AND HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PULLING LEFT SINCE THE VERY FIRST WEEK I OWNED IT. I'VE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED 5 TIMES NOW AND NO SUCCESS. THE CAR WILL DRIVE FINE FOR LESS THAN A WEEK AND IT STARTS TO PULL LEFT AGAIN, SOMETIMES DRIVING OFF THE LOT AFTER AN ALIGNMENT, IT WOULD STILL NOT BE CORRECTED. MY TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY ON THE OUTSIDE EDGES AS WELL, AND ARE NOW THE TIRES ARE WORN DOWN TO THE TREAD INDICATORS. I NEED NEW TIRES BUT DON'T WANT TO WASTE THE MONEY WITHOUT A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236454
Incident
Apr 21, 2007
Mileage
50 mi
Steering
Filed May 31, 2008

WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR ON MY WAY HOME I NOTICE THAT THE CAR IS PULLING TO THE LEFT. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD MY THAT THE AIR IN MY LEFT TIRE IS LOW ON AIR. THE DEALER TRY TO FIX THIS ISSUE WITH NOT HELP. I THEN HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP EITHER. NOW MY TIRE IS WEARING OUT UNEVEN AND THE MITSUBISHI WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR MY CAR TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229384
Incident
May 26, 2007
Steering
Filed May 29, 2008

2008 LANCER PULLS TO THE LEFT. A BIT MORE NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. AGGRESSIVE PULL TO THE LEFT. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THEY DID NOTHING. I CALLED AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY HEARD NOTHING OF THIS PROBLEM DESPITE MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229207
Incident
May 23, 2008
Mileage
1 mi
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed May 24, 2008

THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT VERY STRONGLY, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP 3-4 TIMES TO HAVE THEM TRY AND FIX IT WITH NO AVAIL. THEY ALIGNED IT AND ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT THIS FIXED NOTHING. I STRESSED MY CONCERN WITH THIS THAT THE TIRES WOULD WEAR OUT FAST SINCE IT ISN'T ALIGNED RIGHT, AND NOW, AT 4300 MILES, ALL FOUR TIRES ARE WORN OUT BAD, FEATHERED ON THE OUTSIDE, AND INSIDE IS ALMOST DOWN TO 2/32NDS, AND THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MITUSBISHI THEMSELVES, AND AFTER REVIEWING THE CASE, SAID THE CAR IS FINE, AND ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE EVEN WEAR AND THEY CLOSED THE CASE, EVEN THOUGH ALL THE TIRES ARE WORN OUT DIFFERENT, SOME WORSE THAN OTHERS, AND THE CAR STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228820
Incident
May 18, 2008
Mileage
4,300 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 11, 2008

MY 2008 MITSUBISHI LANCER PULLS TO THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING, BRAKING OR COASTING ON BOTH CROWNED AND UNCROWNED ROADS. IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON INTERNET WEB FORUMS FOR LANCER ENTHUSIASTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10217765
Incident
Dec 20, 2007
Mileage
100 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .