2002 Mitsubishi Lancer: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 148 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is visibility (16% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2016
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 148 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact's daughter owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she felt an air draft inside of the vehicle. The contact's daughter attempted to close the sunroof when she noticed that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the sunroof part was no longer manufactured and they were unable to get the part to perform the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 221,660.”Owner report · Visibility · Jun 2022
“There has no been an incident yet. The vehicle rattles in the front end, exactly where the recalled part is at. I took it to the licensed dealership that I was told was qualified to replace the part and they refused to replace it claiming that the vehicle is too rusty and they don't want to lift it up on the air. I had just had 4 new tires put on it recently and they used a car lift without any issues. I would like the part replaced because now I'm worried about the defect causing a serious accident if it is not replaced. The reason it is being recalled is because it is prone to rust and may deteriorate over time and that is exactly what is happening and they refuse to fix it.”Owner report · Steering · Mar 2020
“This is not the first mitsubishi that has done this. My ex's 2000 mitsubishi eclipse also had this same problem. The speedometer does not register. I need to know how fast I am going.”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“My husband was in an accident and over corrected hit an embankment and a tree and this pushed him back into the road and spin shooting him into another embankment and this resulted in him being forced backwards and into another ditch on the other side of the road hitting a mailbox and another ditch. The airbag never deployed and the seat broke as if he was laying down to sleep but it was broke into this position. He hit his face on the steering wheel and injured his eye some how and the hospital said that it was due to the airbag not deploying. Why did his seat get throwed back like that and break please explain. I could have lost my husband..”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2017
“I received a recall notice for my vehicle january 2017. I've been trying to make an appointment at transittowne mitsubishi at 7428 transit rd. Williamsville, n.y. 14221. They do not answer their phone or emails.”Owner report · Suspension · Feb 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi lancer. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v458000 (suspension) in august. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. *tr”Owner report · Suspension · Nov 2016
“Fuel tank is leaking from the seam. Most of the fuel is on the passenger side directly above the exhaust pipe. Fuel can be smelled all around the vehicle and inside the car”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi lancer. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, the rpm's idled independently. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi lancer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v458000 (suspension); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owned a 2002 mitsubishi lancer. While traveling 30 mph, the steering wheel seized and the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The passenger sustained injuries to the neck and back. Both the contact and passenger required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v458000 (suspension). The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Steering · May 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 32 of these complaints and injuries in 22 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, 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 the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
How other years compare
Check your exact Lancer by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
NHTSA has 148 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. The most complained-about area is visibility (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 68,000 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning equipment:other:labels. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.