MYRModel Year Report

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer

○ Not enough data
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:45:13.168Z

Only 24 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.

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.

Only 24 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.

How is this computed?

Complaints
24

Too few to rank

Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 2005

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
—

Not enough data

Complaints per year

1996: 1 complaint 1996 2000: 1 complaint 2002: 148 complaints 2003: 199 complaints 2004: 80 complaints 2005: 24 complaints 2005 24 2006: 37 complaints 2007: 2 complaints 2008: 91 complaints 2009: 98 complaints 2009 2010: 51 complaints 2011: 34 complaints 2012: 19 complaints 2012 2013: 5 complaints 2014: 16 complaints 2015: 23 complaints 2015 2016: 30 complaints 2017: 6 complaints
1996: 1 complaint 1996 2000: 1 complaint 2002: 148 complaints 2002 2003: 199 complaints 2004: 80 complaints 2005: 24 complaints 2005 24 2006: 37 complaints 2007: 2 complaints 2008: 91 complaints 2008 2009: 98 complaints 2010: 51 complaints 2010 2011: 34 complaints 2012: 19 complaints 2012 2013: 5 complaints 2014: 16 complaints 2014 2015: 23 complaints 2016: 30 complaints 2016 2017: 6 complaints
1996: 1 complaint 1996 2000: 1 complaint 2000 2002: 148 complaints 2002 2003: 199 complaints 2003 2004: 80 complaints 2004 2005: 24 complaints 2005 24 2006: 37 complaints 2006 2007: 2 complaints 2007 2008: 91 complaints 2008 2009: 98 complaints 2009 2010: 51 complaints 2010 2011: 34 complaints 2011 2012: 19 complaints 2012 2013: 5 complaints 2013 2014: 16 complaints 2014 2015: 23 complaints 2015 2016: 30 complaints 2016 2017: 6 complaints 2017

2005: 24 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19961
20001
2002148
2003199
200480
200524
200637
20072
200891
200998
201051
201134
201219
20135
201416
201523
201630
20176

Known problem areas

Only 24 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.

Air bags

10 of 24 total reports mention: air bags, most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle crashed into three deer.

NHTSA ODI report, 2010-04-26

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. While driving 60 MPH, the contact lost control and the rear driver side of the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. She sustained head injuries and the vehicle was destroyed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2007-09-24

I purchased a 2005 Lancer and my decision for the purchase was because of the 4 air bags. I totaled the car and all four airbags did not deploy. The car was totaled on 6-3-07 with alot of damage to the undercarriage.

NHTSA ODI report, 2007-06-20

Suspension

2 of 24 total reports mention: suspension.

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that the cross member fractured without warning and the front upper and lower control arms detached. The vehicle was unable to be driven due to the failure.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-11-26

Also filed under Structure

Vehicle speed control

2 of 24 total reports mention: vehicle speed control, most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, she notices that the vehicle was accelerating independently. The contact was able to slow down the vehicle by utilizing the emergency brake.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-06-29

Structure

2 of 24 total reports mention: structure, most commonly citing body.

Service brakes

2 of 24 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic.

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  4. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  5. R
    2016-09-14Suspension16V458000 Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

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

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2017-10-12Air bags17V569000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2018-04-26Air bags18V220000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 10 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 2 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 2 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 16V458000 · Suspension
  • Recall 17V569000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V220000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 42% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.