The Used Car Index

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

NHTSA lists 199 complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, 13 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 9 complaints mention an injury, with 13 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MITSUBISHI LANCER.

At a glance

Complaints
199
With crash
13
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
9
Injuries
13
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
194,674
Investigations
1
Open investigations
1
Manufacturer communications
77

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
VISIBILITY7135.7%
POWER TRAIN5125.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER168.0%
EQUIPMENT136.5%
STRUCTURE136.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM126.0%
SUSPENSION105.0%
AIR BAGS84.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL73.5%
STEERING63.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
VISIBILITYDEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM42
POWER TRAINCLUTCH ASSEMBLY20
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION19
AIR BAGSFRONTAL7
STRUCTUREBODY7
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
STEERINGCOLUMN3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM2

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

16V458000

Date: 2016-06-23. Systems: SUSPENSION.

Defect: 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, (excerpt)

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

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 custo (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V428000

Date: 2004-09-01. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: 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. (excerpt)

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. (excerpt)

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 BEG (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 1 open.

EA15001

Opened: 2015-02-24. Closed: Not listed.

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive a

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: 14V668, 15E040, 15E041, 15E042, 15E043, 15V284, 15V285, 15V286, 15V287, 15V312, 15V313, 15V318, 15V319, 15V320, 15V322, 15V323, 15V324, 15V361, 15V370, 15V444, 16E005, 16E006, 16E009, 16E042, 16E043, 16E044, 16V036, 16V061, 16V063, 16V071, 16V077, 16V078, 16V079, 16V081, 16V127, 16V128, 16V267, 16V334, 16V340, 16V341, 16V344, 16V346, 16V347, 16V349, 16V352, 16V358, 16V359, 16V361, 16V363, 16V364, 16V373, 16V374, 16V382, 16V384, 16V418, 16V499, 16V947, 17E001, 17E002, 17E034, 17V004, 17V005, 17V006, 17V013, 17V014, 17V015, 17V016, 17V017, 17V020, 17V022, 17V023, 17V024, 17V026, 17V027, 17V028, 17V029, 17V030, 17V031, 17V032, 17V047, 17V068, 17V429, 17V449, 17V457, 17V474, 17V478, 17V479, 17V480, 17V569, 17V787, 17V788, 17V793, 17V806, 17V807, 18E001, 18E002, 18E003, 18V004, 18V007, 18V009, 18V010, 18V011, 18V012, 18V013, 18V014, 18V015, 18V016, 18V018, 18V021, 18V022, 18V023, 18V024, 18V025, 18V030, 18V031, 18V032, 18V038, 18V039, 18V040, 18V041, 18V042, 18V043, 18V044, 18V045, 18V046, 18V082, 18V148, 18V220, 18V247, 18V381, 18V401, 18V402, 18V403, 18V404, 18V427, 18V452, 18V661, 18V662, 18V717, 18V883, 19E001, 19E002, 19E003, 19E016, 19V001, 19V002, 19V003, 19V004, 19V005, 19V006, 19V007, 19V008, 19V009, 19V010, 19V014, 19V015, 19V016, 19V017, 19V018, 19V141, 19V181, 19V182, 19V488, 19V499, 19V500, 19V501, 19V502, 19V698, 19V741, 19V781, 19V782, 20E001, 20V001, 20V002, 20V003, 20V007, 20V008, 20V011, 20V016, 20V017, 20V018, 20V747, 20V785, 21E013, 21V050, 21V051, 21V052, 21V053, 21V054, 21V076, 21V081, 21V158, 21V162, 22V945.

Manufacturer communications

77 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
POWER TRAIN18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING16
EQUIPMENT15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6
STRUCTURE6
VISIBILITY6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5

10240443

Date: 2023-07-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

10235608

Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs.

10235609

Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.

10235606

Date: 2023-04-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

10211530

Date: 2022-04-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.

10169006

Date: 2019-11-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

10163703

Date: 2019-07-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

10130468

Date: 2018-02-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a message sent to dealers, to inform them that an update for MEDIC will be available.

10130469

Date: 2018-02-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

10170074

Date: 2015-08-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY, WHEELS.

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
LANCER199

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mitsubishi models

Other Mitsubishi models, 2003

Sources

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