2015 Mitsubishi Lancer

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

Needs a new motor. I know other 2015 Mitsubishi lancers were recalled for the same reason and this one should be also.

NHTSA ID

11602757

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

I was working on my 2015 Mitsubishi this weekend when i noticed how bad the rear subframe is rusted away. It actually has a crack along it from rusting. I do know there was a recall on the from crossmember for the same exact reason. If that were to break it could be fatal on a highway. I am currently trying to figure out what to do now since it is very unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11544052

Incident

Sep 9, 2023

The rear crossmember subframe is rusted out very badly, and has all the rear axel and components attached to it. This is very unacceptable for car that cost nearly 40 grand.

NHTSA ID

11519910

Incident

May 1, 2023

About 3 weeks ago I notice that the driver seat belt didn’t wanted to click to fasten the seat belt. I notice for sometime now that the car sometimes. Kind of stall then you have to step on the gas pedal to proceed and I’m afraid someone will hit me from the back because it doesn’t go when it’s suppose to also like when you turn it stalls and then you give it gas and it goes then

NHTSA ID

11471081

Incident

Jun 26, 2021

Without any prior warning lights or issues with the car. While i drove to work, about 10-15 miles away or 20 min drive, i came to a stop at a red light and when it turned green the car could not get into 2nd gear and would juts rev mostly in place. First gear didnt really have any pull. After a few seconds it finally took second gear but it jerked the car off causing it to stop very suddenly and thats when the service transmission light came on. I was stuck at the light for at least 5 minutes, can’t imagine that happening on the highway. I took the car to the dealership they said they found a code P183D which basically means i need a new transmission. This car has barely 90,000 miles and they are quoting me over $15,000 just for the parts. They privided me with a TSB which list my car as a year and model with known issue but told me the repairs are not covered by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11464431

Incident

May 7, 2022

THE AYC/ACD PUMP ON MY VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE ON HAS 33,000 MILES ON IT. THE FAILURE OF THIS PUMP IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE EVOLUTION X PLATFORM. THERE IS CURRENT RECALLS FOR OTHER EVOLUTION X YEARS THAT SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE 2015 MODEL. THE FAILURE IS DO IN PART TO CORROSION CAUSED BY THE LOCATION OF THE PUMP AND THE ABILITY FOR WATER, SNOW AND SALT TO GET ON AND INTO THE PUMP. MY CAR IS FROM THE NORTHEAST WHERE SALT IS A COMMON THING IN THE WINTER. I BELIEVE THIS HAS CAUSED THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11372720

Incident

Oct 7, 2020

Mileage

33,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE WITH 200 MILES ON IT AT 700 MILES TOOK IT IN FOR LATCHES AND RATTLES. SINCE THAT HAIR EVERY 8K MIKES IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH AT 22K MILES MADTER SLAVE FAILED TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GIVE OUT AT 28K MILES. PLEASE REVIVE SAWC EVERY 1,000 MILES I'VE OWNED THAT CAR MITSUBISHI STATED NO PROBLEMS FOUND AT THIS TIME. BUT IT WAS VERY NOTICEABLE ONCE DRIVEN. I WORKED FOR ELDER MITSUSHITTY AND THEY REFUSED MY WARRANTY SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH IN MY BANK ACCOUNT TO COVER THE COST OF A REPAIR IF THE WARTY DIDN'T COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR SOME REASON I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULDN'T OF. SO I HAD TO REPOSSESS THIS CAR DUE TO THE ISSUES AND CAR MAX PURCHASED IT AND MISSION MITAUBISHI COULD NOT DIAG IT EVEN THOUGH CARMAX TOOK IT IN FOR THE TRANSMISSION POPPING OUT OF 4TH GEAR. I AM THE ONLY 2015 MITAUBISHI CERTIFIED SALES ASSOCIATE IN AUSTIN TEXAS. AND THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED MY CONCERNS SO I HAD TO REPO MY VEHICLE AND QUIT DUE TO REPAIRS HEY WHERE TRYING TO FORCE ME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER AND ROLL OVER 20K UPSIDE DOWN THEY SOLD A STOLEN EVO FOR MSRP OF MY USED CAR. THIS EVO KILLED ME AND NO ONE KNEW HOW TO SIMPLE WORK. CARFAX HAS YET TO SELL IT SINCE MISSION MITAUBISHI COULD NOT DIAG SOMETHING I COULD, OR CARMAX. ALSO CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT 6 TIMES DUE TO CAR SMELLED LIKE RAW FUEL DUE TO FUEL LEAK 3 TIMES TAKEN TO SERVICE IN 3 YEARS. MECHANIC FREAKED OUT FROM THE SMELL WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE FUEL LEAK. I MEMORIZED THE VIN FROM HOW MANY TIMES I TOOK IT INTO SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

11281241

Incident

Nov 30, 2018

Mileage

702 mi

WHEN YOU GO TO YOU PRESS ON THE GAS IT STARTS TO STALL OUT. THIS STARTED 24 HOURS AFTER I DRIVE OFF FROM USED CAR LOT. AND UPON FURTHER REVIEW, IT DID HAVE A RECALL AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. HOWEVER IT'S DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL STATES.ITS DANGEROUS AND I HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO GETTING HIT BECAUSE THE CAR STALLS OUT.

NHTSA ID

11258649

Incident

Sep 7, 2019

Mileage

135,690 mi

Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.

This Technical Service Bulletin instructs the dealer to update the Hands Free Module software to improve the Bluetooth connection when certain devices are connected to Wi‐Fi.

Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides corrections to the description of special tools used to install the oil seal within the Automatic Transaxle sections of the applicable Service Manuals.

This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the transaxle assembly removal and installation of the roll stopper bracket.

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.