What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

Typical pattern

10.8% of complaints about the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2009 vehicle — around the middle of the 212 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (22 complaints), typically at 6.1 yr or about 70,000 miles.

Complaints
139
Median age at failure
6.3 yr
Median mileage
70,000 n=94
Crash / fire / tow
18.7% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
22 reports · 70,000 mi
6.1 yr
0%
Electrical system
19 reports · 65,000 mi
6.7 yr
5.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V279000 2020-05-18
Structure:frame and members

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from

A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

18V069000 2018-01-26
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.

If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

18V071000 2018-01-26
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.

If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

15V232000 2015-04-20
Electrical system

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be

Unstable voltage could result in intermittent failure of the vehicle's head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. If the headlights and/or windshield wipers fail, the driver could have reduced visibility. If the tail lights fail, the vehicle could be less visible. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

15V233000 2015-04-20
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:fan/motor

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.

Failure of the blower motor may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

14V562000 2014-09-12
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.

If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

09V435000 2009-11-05
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER AND LANCER EVOLUTION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF 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 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE HEAVY ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, A LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO A MIXTURE OF MELTED SNOW WITH SALT THROWN UP BY THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD MAY CAUSE A WATER-SALT MIXTURE TO ADHE

THIS COATING OVER TIME MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE SENSOR. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH OF THE TYPE THAT WOULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS THIS TYPE OF SHORT-CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE A DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WHICH COULD RESULT IN DRIVER OR PASSENGER INJURY.

09V077000 2009-03-10
Service brakes, air:supply:check valve

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 39,711 MY 2008-2009 OUTLANDER AND LACER VEHICLES. INCORRECT MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE MAY CAUSE THE CHECK VALVE TO STICK CLOSED WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RE-STARTED AND PUT INTO MOTION, UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS (VERY SLOW VEHICLE MANEUVERS), THERE MAY BE INSUFFICIENT INITIAL BRAKING ASSIST.

THIS MAY TEMPORARILY INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 13,000 mi 7 mo in service
I'VE HAD MY 09 LANCER SINCE JULY OF 2008. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS UP UNTIL RECENTLY. FOR ABOUT THE PAST MONTH NOW, ON FOUR OCCASIONS, USUALLY IN THE MORNING, WHEN I GO TO START MY CAR IT JUST WONT START. IT MAKES THE SAME SOUND AS IF MY CAR WAS TO START, BUT JUST DOESN'T. SO I HAVE TO WAIT AND KEEP TRYING TO GET IT TO START. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT (GIRARD MITSUBISHI) ON 4/1/09 AND THE MECHANIC HAD SAID HE RAN IT THROUGH THE COMPUTER AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR
Electrical system 44,000 mi 1.6 yr in service
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A POP NOISE. SMOKE CAME ROLLING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. I STOPPED AND LOOKED, BUT FOUND NO FIRE. NOW THE SPEAKERS DO NOT WORK AND THE BOX UNDERNEATH MY SEAT SMELLS LIKE SMOKE. THERE WAS NO FIRE, BUT DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN. *TR
Electrical system 58,000 mi 2.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow
I HAVE AN 09 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES SPORT WITH THE SUN AND SOUND PACKAGE. THE AMPLIFIER, WHICH IS UNDER MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT, FOR THE SOUNDSYSTEM STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED IT A MONTH AGO, AND A WEEK AGO, WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT STARTED SMOKING AND SPARKING AGAIN, BUT STOPS WHEN YOU POWER OFF THE RADIO, IF THE POWER IS ON IN THE RADIO, IT CONTINUES TO SMOKE AND SPARK. I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A WIRING DEFECT IN MY CAR THAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN AND FEAR THAT IF IT CONTINUES MY CAR MAY EVENTUALLY CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
Engine 70,000 mi 6.1 yr in service
BOUGHT 2009 LANCER FOR DAUGHTER FOR SCHOOL ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES ON ENGINE ONE OWNER CAR, PAID 10,000 DOLLARS 3 MONTHS LATER ENGINE BLEW PLEASE DO NOT BUY CAR ENGINE ARE BAD. *TR

Other Lancer model years

2016200920082006200420032002

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