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KLUNK
KLUNK

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer

The Verdict

91 Smooth Ride

The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer has 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (18 complaints) and body (14 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 91/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Mitsubishi Lancer, consider the 2007 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2007 has 94% fewer complaints

View the 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer dashboard →

91

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

16V334000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured June 29, 2005, to June 19, 2007, equipped with certain air b...

Risk

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20026517252919
200313163122120
20044122287
2005721221
20061431811
200700200
2008409122010
20092413253128
201015972826
201113151515
201260175
201311021
201452547
2015401156
2016403319
201710302

By Category

Electrical
18
Body
14
Brakes
3
Engine
1
Transmission
1

By Severity

1
13
2
19
4
5

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

The contact owns a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, she heard abnormal loud grinding sounds coming from underneath the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that her mother had informed her that she had seen an unknown part hanging underneath the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she would need to take the vehicle to their location for recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V458000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,550.

47mo ago
Body 1

When doing routine repair on the control arms, it was noted that there is a ginormous rust hole in the subframe where the control arm connects to aforementioned subframe

52mo ago
Body 1

My lancer has very bad rear end chassis rust where the rear subframe is fastened to the monobody. In this area all the suspension components and rear drivetrain are located. Damage occurs due to salt and other corrosive agents that are used for roads in Connecticut to melt snow. These agents rust the car where Mitsubishi failed to properly protect the steel under the rear end of the vehicle. It is widely observed that the 03-06 lancer has from factory a poor to almost no anti rust agent applied to the lower rear chassis area of the car where the subframe crossmember is located that holds suspension components and rear differential. Currently under nhtsa campaign 16V458000, there is a safety recall for the front subframe crossmember due to rust damage. As for the rear of the car there most certainly should be a safety campaign as the rust in this area develops quicker and can cause a catastrophic failure.

53mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while working on the vehicle, the contact noticed that there was a huge hole in the sub-frame due to rust. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and it was diagnosed that the sub-frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000. The VIN was unavailable.

62mo ago
Body 2

REAR FRAME RAIL RUST. THE CAR STATED TO ACCUMULATE RUST ON THE FRAME RAILS OF THE CAR THAT CONNECTS THE REAR SUBFRAME AND REAR TOE ARM. FAILURE OF THESE AREAS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER DID A POOR JOB CORROSION PROOFING THIS AREA ON THIS MODEL YEAR. THE CAR HAD A 7 YEAR/ 100,000 RUST WARRANTY IN WHICH I AM SURE THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED WITHIN THAT COVERAGE BUT WAS HARD TO NOTICE UNTIL RUST STARTED FORMING ON THE OUTSIDE FRAME WHICH IS HARD TO SEE WITHOUT JACKING UP THE CAR. *TR

74mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM SEEING OUT THE WINDOW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO GALLERY MITSUBISHI-CORONA (LOCATED AT 2550 WARDLOW RD, CORONA, CA 92882, (951) 372-0008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

80mo ago
Electrical 2

AFTER THEY CHANGE THE AIRBAGS FROM THE WARNING LIGHTS IS ON AND DEALERS CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM?

83mo ago
Body 1

REAR CHASSIS MEMBER (A FRAME RAIL) CORRODED CLOSE TO THE POINT WHERE REAR SUBFRAME IS CONNECTED. IT IS NOW A SAFETY CONCERN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT MAY CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO DETACH. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ON RUST OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME HOWEVER IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN INADEQUATE UNDERCARRIAGE PROTECTION

84mo ago
Body 2

REAR FRAME RAILS RUST CLOSE TO POINTS WHERE THE REAR SUBFRAME IS BOLTED ON. INSUFFICIENT SEALANT/COATING CAUSES RUST DAMAGE THAT CAN LEAD TO STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS.

84mo ago
Electrical 2

DRIVER AIR BAG THE BOARD LIGHT WENT ON, ABOUT 10 MONTHS, WITH NO REASON WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY

86mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY MOTHER'S CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED MORE THAN 5 YEARS AGO, AND MY MOTHER HAS BEEN DEAD FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. IS THERE ANY WAY TO HAVE THIS VIN: [XXX], REMOVED FROM DATABASES? IT IS ANNOYING AND PAINFUL TO RECEIVE MAIL CONCERNING A WRECKED CAR THAT BELONGED TO MY LATE MOTHER.; THANK YOU.; INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

95mo ago
Electrical 2

WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WE NO LONGER HAVE THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH THIS CAR AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I HAVE TALKED TO MITSUBISHI RECALL CENTER ABOUT THIS VERY DANGEROUS AIRBAG THAT HAS ALREADY KILLED 23 PEOPLE: UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NOT A DEALERSHIP WHERE I LIVE, SO ACCORDING TO THE MITSUBISHI CASE WORKER ONE OF US WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN ORLAND CA: WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AWAY/ THIS CAR HAS 130,000 MILES ON IT AND CAN HEAR A TAPPING NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTING. BECAUSE OF THIS NOISE, MY HUSBAND FEELS THIS CAR MAY BREAK DOWN ON THE WAY TO THIS DEALERSHIP. MY HUSBAND ALSO HAS A HARD TIME GETTING TIME OFF, "DUE TO THE NATURE OF HIS JOB," AND I HAVE ANXIETY AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I ALSO HAVE A HARD TIME DRIVING LONG DISTANCES DUE TO A TORN MENISCUS THAT I HAD SURGERY FOR IN FEBRUARY OF 2017. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS KNEE AND AM CURRENTLY STILL ON DISABILITY FROM THIS INJURY. THIS I HAVE RELATED TO THE MITSUBISHI CASE MANAGER WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO US. SHE SAID THAT ALL SHE CAN DO FOR US IS GIVE US $100.00 FOR THE COST OF GAS AND SHE DID NOT OFFER ANY OTHER SOLUTIONS, EVEN AFTER I EXPLAINED THE ABOVE TO HER. ARE WE REALLY STUCK WITH THIS OFFER? CAN YOU HELP US WITH THIS? DOES. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH MAKING PEOPLE TAKE A RISK TO FIX. THEY ARE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH OUR LIVES. SINCERELY, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

98mo ago
Brakes 4

APPLIED BRAKE, BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, INSTEAD VEHICLE SPED UP CAUSING COLLISION.

98mo ago
Body 2

RECALL.THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACH AT THE CROSS-MEMBER. SUB FRAM SNAPED WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP AT 4 MPH IF THAT. ON CITY ST . I WAS ON MY WAY TO GO ON EXPRESS WAY WHEN CAR WHEEL WENT CRAZY HURD LOUD BOOM LIKE I HIT SON THING BUT I WAS ONLY ROLLING OVER SPEED BUMP AT ABOUTV4 MILES CUZ IT WAS A BIG BUMP AND DID NOT WANT TO MESS MY CAR UP I DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT PASSES MY BACK TIERS. SO LED BUMP WAS NOW BETWEEN THE CAR AND I COULD NOT MOVE OR TIRE WAS GONNA COME OFF. I WAS NOT SPEEDING. I WAS IN MY WAY TO GO ON EXPRESS WAY. ME AND MY KIDS COULD OF DIED.

99mo ago
Electrical 1

OVER TIME THE VEHICLES ORIGINAL HEADLAMPS HAVE FADED TO A POINT WHERE IT IS AFFECTING DRIVER VISIBILITY. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH GLASS FIXTURES MANY YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE ON MANY AUTOMOBILES SINCE THE ADOPTION OF PLASTIC HEADLAMPS. BASED ON PERFORMANCE, IT IS OBVIOUS PLASTIC HEADLAMPS ARE CAUSING ISSUES WITH VISIBILITY AND SHOULD BE BANNED OR AT LEAST EXAMINED FOR A BETTER SOLUTION.

103mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER (RON MARHOFER MITSUBISHI, 1260 MAIN ST B, CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH 44221, 1-(844) 627-2533) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND DID NOT PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V334000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V569000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

103mo ago
Electrical 2

ACTIVATION OF A NONDESICCATED AMMONIUM NITRATE INFLATOR WITH DEGRADED PROPELLANT MAY RESULT IN AN INFLATOR RUPTURE. AN INFLATOR RUPTURE MAY CAUSE METAL FRAGMENTS TO PASS THROUGH THE AIR BAG AND INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR AT HIGH SPEED, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

105mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BAY CARS MITSUBISHI AT (850) 785-1591 (615 W 15TH ST, PANAMA CITY, FL 32401). THE CONTACT DECLINED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

106mo ago
Electrical 1

I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE MITSUBISHI DEALER REPAIR THE RECALLED AIRBAGS. THEY CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT I HAD SCHEDULED (WITHOUT CALLING ME). I ASKED THEM IF I COULD RESCHEDULE - THEY ADVISED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE WORK, SO THEY WERE UNWILLING TO RESCHEDULE. I GAVE THEM MY PHONE NUMBER TO CALL ME BACK. THEY NEVER DID. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE, BUT WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET IT FIXED. THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAGS YET, BUT I'M UNABLE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.

106mo ago
Electrical 2

HEAD LIGHTS LAMP REPLACED TWICE AND STILL NOT WORKING LIKE SUPPOSE TO, SOME TIME ONE LIGHT, HIGH BEAM NO WORK AT ALL.

114mo ago

37 total

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