2004 Mitsubishi Lancer

● Typical for this model

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer
RENDERED 2026-08-02T10:34:01.120Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% 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

2004: 80 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

AIR BAGS 24%

24% of complaints: air bags — 19 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *NM

NHTSA ODI report, 20050217

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V569000 (AIR BAGS).

NHTSA ODI report, 20180503

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180502

VISIBILITY 13%

13% of complaints: visibility — 10 distinct reports on file.

VISIBILITY 9%

9% of complaints: visibility — 7 distinct reports on file.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: electrical system — 6 distinct reports on file.

FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

JUST LEFT A AUTO CAR WASH AND WITHIN ABOUT TWO MINUTES SMOKE RISES FROM THE CENTER FLOOR CONSOLE. I PULLED INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY. PARKED AWAY FROM THE PUMPS. DEMANDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE ATTENDANT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120707

1. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR OR LESS (DEPENDING ON ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS) A SPARK/STATIC DISCHARGE OCCURS BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL METAL SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRST OCCUPANT EXITING VEHICLE. *AK 2.

NHTSA ODI report, 20040707

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6%

6% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 5 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

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 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 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

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 20171012 — air bags

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles.

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.

Campaign 17V569000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180426 — air bags

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.

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.

Campaign 18V220000 — 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