Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback options? We analyzed 10 model years (2005–2017) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Found a Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback has 170 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls across model years 2005–2017. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2009 drew the most complaints; 2011 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mitsubishi
- Model
- Lancer Sportback
- Model years analyzed
- 2005–2017 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 170
- Safety recall campaigns
- 12
- Crash-related complaints
- 19
- Fire-related complaints
- 6
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2009 (98 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2011 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK has 170 NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls on record. 19 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 170 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 12 federal recall campaigns
- 19 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
12 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2005–2017. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 170 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
170 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Sunroof assembly detached cables broke while driving . The sunroof could have case an accident with the right vibration and wind intake while stuck open and couldn't shut. We took ot to mitsubishi dealer in Augusta maine the next morning since the incident happened at 840pm on thursday 3/17/22 in Woolwich We were hopping for servicing to see if it could be reattached and cables fixes jad the dealer disable the moonroof and closed the sunroof. We have an 08 lancer that had the recall and fixed the year prior now our 2013 actually has it happen and currently had no recall . The dealer as of Friday approximately at 340 told us the whole assembly has to be replaced. Way to expensive for use to replace at the moment we were quoted $1740
VEHICLE HESITATES DURING ACCELERATION, CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION, HESITATION IS EXTREMELY SEVERE AT MUCH LOWER SPEEDS, OFTEN THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD AT A SEVERE RATE BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR WILL BE ALMOST TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME THE HESITATION, VEHICLE DOES THIS EVERY TIME, IT ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND I'VE ALREADY HAD A MECHANIC EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION "SHIFTING VERY FUNNY" DURING A TRANSMISSION FLUID EXCHANGE DONE A FEW WEEKS PRIOR. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THIS ISSUE EXISTS.
3RD TIME MY SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF WHILE DRIVING LOSE POWER TO EVERYTHING, POWER STEERING BATTERY,EVERYTHING STOPS WORKING.
The contact owns a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormally loud thumping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact pulled over the shoulder of the roadway. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the front driver’s side wheel had caved inward from the top. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was determined that the cross members were rusted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
VEHICLE HAS APROX. 100K MILES ON ODOMETER AS OF TIME OF COMPLAINT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR TRANSMISSION "SLOW DOWN" MESSAGE BEFORE. VEHICLE HESITATES FOR APROX. 1-2 SEC. BEFORE MOVING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE THEN PROCEDED TO COMPLETELY STOP AND NOT DRIVE WHILE "DRIVE" RANGE WAS SELECTED. VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC UNTIL DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, SHUT OFF, AND RESTART ENGINE. SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OUTLANDER VEHICLES OF SIMILAR AGE AND SAME TRANSMISSION, CAUSED BY FAULTY TCM SOFTWARE. MULTIPLE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY SIMILAR FAULTS.
The subframe on a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer with 57,000 miles on it has rusted and cracked. This seems identical to NHTSA campaign number: 20V-279 but this year/make is not covered under recall. I have pictures and a video taken by Conrad's as they are doing the replacement. I attached the photos but the video is to large, so here is a link https://photos.app.goo.gl/akY1TzhF6SXRSJFs7
Read 14 more owner reports
The contact owns a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he smelled a strong gasoline odor inside and outside of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continually drive the vehicle. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V546000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Parking Brake). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SLOW DOWN MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS HIT YESTERDAY WHEN SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS GOING MAYBE 40 MPH DOWN A STRAIGHT CITY STREET BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF WHEN I WAS HIT
BELT TENSIONER IS BAD AND WHEN ACCELERATING MAKES NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD IN THE MORNING
THE AYC PUMP(AWD PUMP) KEEPS SAYING IT'S GOING OUT AND THIS HAPPENS TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE. A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE. THE PUMP NEEDS TO BE RELOCATED AND REPLACED AT MITSUBISHI'S COST. IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE BUYERS THAT WE WERE PAYING FOR A CAR THAT WE HAD TO BUY 1 $1700+ PART AND LABOR. IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF THE PUMP GOES WHILE DRIVING IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IN WINTER OF 2018 WAS MY FIRST YEAR IN SNOW WITH IT. ABOUT FEBRUARY WHENEVER THE WEATHER WOULD GET ABOVE 40 DEGREES, THE TARMAC LIGHT WOULD START TO FLASH SIGNALING THE PUMP IS FAILING.
WARNING INDICATOR IN MANUAL AND DISPLAY HAS A SEATBELT AND AIRBAG PICTURE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V569000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED A UNKNOWN LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
I BOUGHT MY 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCER IN NOV. 2014 AT LONG LEWIS FORD IN FLORENCE, AL, WHERE I RECEIVED ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE PERFORMANCES FOR IT. ON SEPT. 15, 2017, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE (WHILE IN MOTION), CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ONCE THE SYSTEM FAILED, I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND COULD ONLY "COAST" TO TRY AND FIND A SAFE SPOT TO BRAKE. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE MAIN RELAY HAD CAUGHT FIRE, WAS BLACK, BURNT UP, AND MELTED ON THE INSIDE. I COULDN'T GET MY CAR TO GO IN NEUTRAL OR ANY SYSTEMS TO WORK TO GET IT COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD, CREATING ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD, AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. A SALES TECH MET ME WITH A NEW RELAY THAT I PURCHASED. THE NEW RELAY DID NOT GET MY CAR MOVING AGAIN BECAUSE WHEN THE RELAY (THAT WAS IN MY CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT) CAUGHT FIRE, IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE COMPUTER/ECM. WHEN GIVING THE PART NUMBERS FROM MY RELAY AND ECM/COMPUTER FOR REPLACEMENTS, THE PARTS SPECIALISTS AND I REALIZED THAT THE PART NUMBERS FOR THE COMPUTER/ECM MATCHED ONLY A 2015 COMPUTER/ECM, AND THERE WAS NOT A MATCHING PART NUMBER FOR THE RELAY AS THAT EXACT ONE WAS UNOBTAINABLE, AND A DIFFERENT ONE THAT WAS COMPATIBLE HAD TO BE PURCHASED. I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2015-2017 MITSUBISHI LANCER RELAYS BECAUSE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE RELAY WHICH CAUSES COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION BEING PERFORMED TO SEE IF THE 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THIS RECALL AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME RELAY ISSUE, SAFETY HAZARD AND CONCERNS, AND ALSO DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY 2014 LANCER HAS A 2015 SYSTEM IN IT. I NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN WHETHER THE RELAY THAT WAS PUT IN MY 2014 LANCER WHEN BUILT, AND WHEN REPLACED, WAS/IS NOT DEFECTIVE. PLEASE ADVISE IF I NEED TO DIRECT THIS SAFETY CONCERN TO ANOTHER APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATOR.
VEHICLE HAS CVT TRANSMISSION AND WHEN THE CAR AND ENGINE ARE COLD THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE THE CAR. CAR REVS TO 1500-2000 RPM AMD WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO CREEP FORWARD. CAR ONLY HAD 75,000 MILES BUT AS WE ARE THE 2ND OWNER MITSUBISHI WILL NOT WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL OWNER WARRANTY IS 100,000 MILES AND THERE IS ALREADY A TECALL ON THIS SAME TRANSMISSION IN THE OUTLANDER.
AFTER ABOUT 35,000 MILES A WARNING LIGHT CAME UP SAYING ASC SERVICE REQUIRED. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT TURNED OUT TO BE THAT THE AWD PUMP WAS OUT. THE LIGHT COMES ON MEANWHILE I DRIVE AROUND.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG EXPLODED. MY CONCERN IS I WAS 47 AND PRETTY GOOD SHAPE YET I HAD PAIN IN MY CHEST FOR OVER12 MO. I CONCERNED PEOPLE IN LESS SHAPE THAN ME WILL NEVER SURVICE THE IMKPACT OF THAT AIRBAG BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I BARELY SURVIVED. MAYBE THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS I NEVER HAD ONE HIT ME BEFORE BUT TO THIS DAY I STILL FEEL A LITTLE PAIN.
MY CAR WAS RECENTLY WRECKED GOING AROUND THE CORNER IN THE SNOW IS IT SLID OFF THE ROAD INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE FIRE HYDRANT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF WHEN WE IMPACT WE WERE DOING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR ALSO DID NOT TURN ITSELF OFF LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V281000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
While driving the car we began hearing a rattling noise. We took it to the dealer to get it checked. They informed us that the control member was beginning to rust out causing the control arms to become loose. This is the exact problem related to a recall in other states for this car.
Showing 20 of 170 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback has 170 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback has 12 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 19 of the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback's 170 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
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Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback reliable?
Poor. The Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback has 170 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2009 (98 complaints), 2010 (53 complaints), 2014 (16 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (36 complaints); POWER TRAIN (26 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (25 complaints).
Does the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback have recalls?
Yes — 12 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.