10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
115,286 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Owner Comments

problem #7

Jan 052019

Lancer

  • 165,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The air conditioning and heater controls knobs on dashboard. Do not turn. Can't. adjust temperature electrical cercuit in the emissions system has low voltage that causes the engine.light to cpme on and turn off at random. The front headlights are very week in lumins. When driving on the highway and city streets, the car accelerates on its own without. Me pushing. On the foot pedel.. the sunroof moter came unattended on it own.

- Hanford, CA, USA

problem #6

May 122013

Lancer 4-cyl

  • 180,000 miles
The temperature control knob was very hard to turn on the ac/heater module and eventually broke off. A failure of the temperature selection could result in inability to defrost the windshield properly, resulting in unsafe driving environment.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #5

Mar 012005

Lancer 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The hot/cold switch broke off. Since I bought this car it has been difficult to turn the switch for temperature control. Both knobs are damaged and now im not able to control the direction of the air neither the temperature. This has to be a manufacture defect since. During my research online I've found many similar problems like this one. Mitsubishi should make a recall and fix it.

- Modesto , CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 102010

Lancer

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Temperature knob was always difficult to turn, then it broke completely off. Not a problem for the summer (it's stuck on cold) but needs to be fixed for the winter so that the car can defrost the windshield. Technician said it would be between $1500-2000 to repair because you have to remove the dashboard and replace the entire knob panel plus fix the real problem which is the "air mix door lever". apparently this is a common problem for mistubishi owners and the company has not done a recall to fix it; therefore owners are dropping $1000S of dollars to get their car operational for seasonal temp changes. Isn't it a safety hazard if your defroster does not work"?"

- Catonsville, MD, USA

problem #3

Dec 112008

Lancer

  • 86,000 miles
All three brake lights stopped working with no warning. 1. normal driving to and from work, unsure of anything leading up to failure. Was alerted by another driver that was behind me while driving and then pulled up next to me at a light. Was lucky there was no crash. 2. lights are completely out, have not been able to get them back on 3. have checked the fuse as labeled in the manufacturers handbook, checked the brake light switch, checked the light bulbs, all are in ok fashion and work when tested separately.

- Herriman, UT, USA

problem #2

Aug 022008

Lancer

  • 186,000 miles
I had just left my home. I had not been driving for more than 2 minutes when my front speakers shut off. I then start to notice a burning smell. I see the interior start to fill up with smoke. I thought it was an engine fire at first until I noticed a fire in my passenger door speaker. I pulled over but was not able to extinguish the flames. I made a call to 911 to send the fire department. Thankfully the fire house was very close and was able to put the fire out before it damaged more than just the door. I have the door and subsequent damage scheduled to be repaired Aug 18th 2008. I have not taken apart, replaced, or upgraded any dash, radio or electrical component of the car. I don't know what would have caused this. Additionally I am also missing the heat and A/C knob as it broke off last winter.

- Newark, OH, USA

problem #1

May 162007

Lancer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Sensor one had an internal failure. Mitisubishi service tech stated it was due to the bad gas in North Carolina. According to that it would be manufacturing problem. But was told since no recalls, would have to pay $400 plus tax to have it fixed. If not fixed would affect the catalytic converter and would cause the car not to run.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

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