2003 Mitsubishi Lancer

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2003: 199 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1996	1
2000	1
2002	148
2003	199
2004	80
2005	24
2006	37
2007	2
2008	91
2009	98
2010	51
2011	34
2012	19
2013	5
2014	16
2015	23
2016	29
2017	6

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

VISIBILITY 14%

14% of complaints: visibility — 28 distinct reports on file.

Show complaint excerpts

PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW JULY 2003. HEAT/AC KNOB HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT IS NOW STUCK ON A/C. I AM LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT ACQUIRES FREEZING TEMPERATURES, AND EVIDENTLY, WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120830

VISIBILITY 14%

14% of complaints: visibility — 28 distinct reports on file.

POWER TRAIN 10%

10% of complaints: power train — 19 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

POWER TRAIN 9%

9% of complaints: power train — 17 distinct reports on file.

VISIBILITY 6%

6% of complaints: visibility — 12 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2003 — complaint volume: 199

R 20060509 — exterior lighting

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

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.

Campaign 06E023000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060510 — exterior lighting

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 CONFOR

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.

Campaign 06E038000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20160914 — suspension

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members.

Campaign 16V458000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — equipment

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.

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.

Campaign 04V428000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.

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.

Campaign 06E064000 — check if this car was fixed