Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Exterior lighting 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.
13
Latest Aug 2, 2023
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 98 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 exterior lighting
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights turned off and turned on independently, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V232000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 110,000.
NHTSA ID
11536104
Incident
Jul 24, 2023
Mileage
110,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 8, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported
WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. THEY WOULD CUT OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WOULD STAY ON WHEN CAR AND LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF AND WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE RELAY OUT TO GET THEM TURNED OFF. THEY WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS ON OR OFF. REPLACED NUMEROUS RELAYS, RETURNED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THREE TIMES. THIS CAUSED OUR SON TO HAVE A WRECK AS THE LOW BEAMS LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND A CAR NOT SEEING HIM PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. STARTED A 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AND NOTHING BEING DONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS OR DEATH FROM ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ID
11353849
Incident
Sep 5, 2020
Mileage
200,100 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 18, 2020
HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. *TR
NHTSA ID
11325074
Incident
May 10, 2020
Mileage
62,000 mi
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE MECHANIC GAVE HER A $200 REIMBURSEMENT TOWARDS THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED SOON AFTER, INCLUDING SHAKING AND JERKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ENTIRE NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V069000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 12E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALLS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS OR THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
NHTSA ID
11265899
Incident
May 1, 2019
Mileage
167,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 20, 2018
THE ECU IS BAD AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING THERE IS MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS AN ISSUE AND WANT NEAR 1000 $ TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD THE LIGHT TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIME CAUSING MY WIFE TO PANIC AND CAUSING ALARM THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT
NHTSA ID
11162622
Incident
Nov 21, 2018
Mileage
90,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 20, 2018
LOW BEAM, DAYLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A RECALL FOR ETACS ECU ON 2009 LANCERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JAN 12, 2009 AND JULY 6, 2010. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED ON NOV, 2008. REFERENCE R/2015/157. RIGHT NOW IS UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE DURING NIGHTS. I NOTICE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLAINS FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR BUT WHERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE WHERE FABRICATED IN 2008 HAVING THE SAME SPARE PARTS (ETACS ECU) USED IN THE RECALL VEHICLES.
NHTSA ID
11152951
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
Mileage
114,592 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 8, 2017
VEHICLE HEAD LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER SAYS MY ETACS IS FAULTY. THIS IS THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT HAS FORCED A RECALL ON OTHER LANCERS. SR-15-002. I FEEL THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.
NHTSA ID
11044681
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Mileage
95,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 13, 2017
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A RECALL ON 2009 LANCERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JAN 12, 2009 AND JULY 6, 2010. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 18, 2008. I FEEL THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE REVISED AS MY CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS WHAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THAT WERE PART OF THE RECALL. THIS SEEMS MORE THAN JUST A COINCIDENCE.
NHTSA ID
10994614
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
98,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 12, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE AND REAR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V232000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V232000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA ID
10994443
Incident
Jun 9, 2017
Mileage
106,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V232000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ID
10892848
Incident
Jul 15, 2016
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 28, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V232000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 08/31/16*LJ *TR
NHTSA ID
10889258
Incident
Jul 9, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesEngineExterior lighting
Filed Nov 14, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V562000 (ENGINE), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V077000 (AIR, SERVICE BRAKES). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
10655067
Incident
Nov 14, 2014
Exterior lighting
Filed May 13, 2010
FRONT LIGHT GET MOISTURE AND WATER INSIDE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10330343
Incident
Aug 25, 2009
Mileage
500 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