The Used Car Index

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

NHTSA lists 80 complaints for the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer, 7 of them mention a crash and 3 mention a fire. 4 complaints mention an injury, with 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MITSUBISHI LANCER.

At a glance

Complaints
80
With crash
7
With fire
3
With injury (complaints)
4
Injuries
4
Deaths
0
Recalls
4
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
194,674
Investigations
2
Open investigations
1
Manufacturer communications
91

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
VISIBILITY2126.3%
AIR BAGS1923.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM78.8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING78.8%
POWER TRAIN78.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL78.8%
SUSPENSION67.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER56.3%
EQUIPMENT33.8%
STRUCTURE33.8%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
VISIBILITYDEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE2
POWER TRAINCLUTCH ASSEMBLY2
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION2
SEAT BELTSFRONT2
SUSPENSIONFRONT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICPEDALS AND LINKAGES1

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.

4 recalls.

18V220000

Date: 2018-04-05. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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 fr (excerpt)

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V569000

Date: 2017-09-14. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

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

2 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.

PE14016

Opened: 2014-06-11. Closed: 2015-03-02.

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: 13V172000, 14E073000, 14V428000, 14V700000, 14V763000, 14V770000, 14V772001, 14V787000, 15V226000.

Manufacturer communications

91 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
AIR BAGS36
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING17
EQUIPMENT15
POWER TRAIN10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
WHEELS4

11026478

Date: 2025-11-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Puerto Rico addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11024110

Date: 2025-09-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Texas addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11017995

Date: 2025-04-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Louisiana addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11017996

Date: 2025-04-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Ohio addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11012589

Date: 2024-12-09. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that MMNA is launching a social media campaign targeting vehicle owners with open Takata recalls.

11010045

Date: 2024-10-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Arizona addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11008766

Date: 2024-09-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Georgia Department of Revenue a Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Georgia addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11008790

Date: 2024-09-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Georgia Department of Revenue a Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Georgia addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11008814

Date: 2024-09-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Georgia Department of Revenue a Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Georgia addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.

11006079

Date: 2024-07-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.

This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with New York addresses to inform of open Takata recalls.

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
LANCER80

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mitsubishi models

Other Mitsubishi models, 2004

Sources

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