2005 Mitsubishi Lancer: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 24 owner complaints on record; most reports concern air bags; the 2007 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The steering column on my 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer ES detached while driving. The entire column dropped down from its mounting brackets, causing loss of control. This is a serious safety hazard. The mount bolts were intact previously, but they came loose or the bracket failed without warning. This could have resulted in a crash and severe injury. I believe this may be a structural or manufacturing defect and could affect other Lancer vehicles of similar year. I performed a temporary repair myself so the vehicle could be moved safely, but this does NOT solve the underlying problem. The original steering column mounting should not have failed under normal use.”Owner report · Steering · Nov 2025
“I sold this car last july 2018 through a trade-in. Please stop sending me all of these horrifying reminders. It is not appreciated. Please remove my name and address from all mailing lists. I did not get it done when I owned the car as the dealership was quite a drive and I could not drop it off. Car is sold.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that the cup from the ball joints, the front end, tie rod, unknown wiring harness and the driver's side headlight failed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown mitsubishi dealer however, was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the warranty. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired out of pocket. Additionally, the instrument panel was also replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“The signal lights stop working also the hazards. The horn remains on. A lot of people say that is a problem of the car inside body that take the connector of the junction block and corrode them. A lot of people have this problems. The problem is in motion and stationary.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2018
“I received a safety recall notice by mail from mitsubishi motors sales of caribbean on june, I call to a dealership they told me that I have to wait my turn and to wait the inflator to be available, we are in august and still no notice, I call them today and they told me I have to wait my turn, I called to another dealership and they told me they are taking only one car daily and the list is longer. They are extremely slow, other manufacturers are more proactive, but this is taking to long to resolve the defect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mitsubishi lancer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v321000 (air bags); however, the parts needed were not available. The manufacturer expected the contact to schedule a repair at a dealer that was out of state and not a local authorized dealer which was unreasonable. The manufacturer was unable to provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The VIN was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the floor mat was removed on the driver side and it was discovered that the floor board had excessive rust and fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.”Owner report · Structure · May 2015
“The srs light came on in my lancer. I have been told by the mechanic the part will take over a month to arrive as a result of a recall. I have been told that the air bag no longer works. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, she notices that the vehicle was accelerating independently. The contact was able to slow down the vehicle by utilizing the emergency brake. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 131,883.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jun 2012
“Tl*the contact owns a 2005 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle crashed into three deer. The headlights were destroyed, the front fell off of the vehicle, and the passenger side fender was pushed in. The air bags did not deploy but the srs air bag warning light illuminated upon impact and had remained illuminated. The contact did not report any injuries. The contact had not called the manufacturer when the complaint was filed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 80,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-17-001. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-321.
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 ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
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.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles that previously received a like-for-like passenger side frontal air bag inflator under recall 15V321 as interim remedy. Also recalled are 2004-2006 Lancer vehicles located in Guam or Saipan that previously received or never received a new inflator under 15V321 or 17V569. These passenger side frontal air bag inflators may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to explode in the event of an air bag deployment.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-005.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
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 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
NHTSA has 24 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. The most complained-about area is air bags.
Does the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. 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.