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2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

Safety ratings, recalls, and consumer complaints from NHTSA

NHTSA Safety Ratings

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer 4-DR w/SAB

Overall
Not Rated
Front Crash
Not Rated
Side Crash
Not Rated
Rollover
★★★★☆

Recalls(8)

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 road salt use.

Campaign: 20V279000

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.

Campaign: 18V069000

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.

Campaign: 18V071000

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.

Campaign: 14V562000

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.

Campaign: 15V232000

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.

Campaign: 15V233000

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.

Campaign: 09V077000

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 ADHERE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS.

Campaign: 09V435000

Consumer Complaints(121 total, showing 10)

STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS

I was driving down the road and spun out of control because my rack and pinion steering inner and outer tie rod snapped in half, because of rust from salt water and corrosion on the metal, resulting in my loss of control and front passenger wheel turned 90 degrees inward and nearly ripped the front tire off and under the car, brought the car home and inspected it tthoroughly, and saw the immediate problem

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights turned off and turned on independently, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V232000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 110,000.

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The car started to slow down on its own even when my foot was on the gas it wouldn’t pick up speed over 20mph then it started to over heat, then smoke. It sounded like sparks like from a firecracker and smelt like something was burning to the point I had to pull over and turn the car off so my children and I could get out and breathe. When I restarted it turned on but would not drive when put into gear. I had it towed and the next day I tried again only this time the battery was dead and nothing was left on in the car I couldn’t understand how this happened so I bought a new battery put it in and it started still wouldn’t move though so I gave it a few days went to try again and the new battery was dead like something was draining all the power.

STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while the vehicle was having a routine oil change at the dealer, the mechanic stated that rear crossmember bar was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was informed that the front crossmember bar needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 116,000. The consumer stated while the mechanic was attempting to change the front cross member started taking the front end apart, he said he had stripped a bolt on the catalytic converter. Also, the dealer charged the consumer for a new catalytic converter without permission. A new appointment was made on 12/14/2022 to fix the damages at their cost.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

My brake light are no longer working and it is not because of a bulb I replaced all of them and they still do not work. And also my cruise control turns on and off but it will not set a speed

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after the vehicle had sat for over five days undriven, the vehicle had to be jump started. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the Bluetooth connection module was draining the battery and that the module needed to be removed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING THE CAR OR PARKED AND RUNNING. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG MODULE THRU 2007 LANCER. MINE HAS 71K MILES. IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS FOR 2009 MODELS?

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED UPON DEPRESSION AS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP HIS BRAKES REPEATEDLY IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HE ALSO APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR ASSISTANCE BEFORE HITTING A TREE STUMP. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A TWEAK IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT NEEDED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO LOW IMPACT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE CONTACT THEN SPOKE TO ROSEVILLE AUTOMALL(700 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661) AND THE MANUFACTURER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V077000(SERVICE BRAKES, AIR); THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.*DT*JB

Crash reported1 injury

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

HAVING NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS CAN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MINUTES ON THE FREEWAY OR ELSE MY CAR STARTS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AND LOSES POWER SHIFTING AT HIGH RPMS

SUSPENSION

SUB FRAME IS BAD ON THE CAR. HAD 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AND STATE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES NO RESOLUTION...

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