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2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

The Verdict

70 Solid Pick

The 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer has 121 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (31 complaints) and transmission (28 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 70/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Mitsubishi Lancer, consider the 2007 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2007 has 98% fewer complaints

View the 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer dashboard →

70

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

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.

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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

Engine
31
Transmission
28
Electrical
25
Body
24
Brakes
13

By Severity

1
61
2
47
3
1
4
12

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

I was driving down the road and spun out of control because my rack and pinion steering inner and outer tie rod snapped in half, because of rust from salt water and corrosion on the metal, resulting in my loss of control and front passenger wheel turned 90 degrees inward and nearly ripped the front tire off and under the car, brought the car home and inspected it tthoroughly, and saw the immediate problem

33mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights turned off and turned on independently, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V232000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 110,000.

36mo ago
Engine 1

The car started to slow down on its own even when my foot was on the gas it wouldn’t pick up speed over 20mph then it started to over heat, then smoke. It sounded like sparks like from a firecracker and smelt like something was burning to the point I had to pull over and turn the car off so my children and I could get out and breathe. When I restarted it turned on but would not drive when put into gear. I had it towed and the next day I tried again only this time the battery was dead and nothing was left on in the car I couldn’t understand how this happened so I bought a new battery put it in and it started still wouldn’t move though so I gave it a few days went to try again and the new battery was dead like something was draining all the power.

38mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while the vehicle was having a routine oil change at the dealer, the mechanic stated that rear crossmember bar was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was informed that the front crossmember bar needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 116,000. The consumer stated while the mechanic was attempting to change the front cross member started taking the front end apart, he said he had stripped a bolt on the catalytic converter. Also, the dealer charged the consumer for a new catalytic converter without permission. A new appointment was made on 12/14/2022 to fix the damages at their cost.

44mo ago
Brakes 1

My brake light are no longer working and it is not because of a bulb I replaced all of them and they still do not work. And also my cruise control turns on and off but it will not set a speed

48mo ago
Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that after the vehicle had sat for over five days undriven, the vehicle had to be jump started. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the Bluetooth connection module was draining the battery and that the module needed to be removed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

54mo ago
Electrical 1

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING THE CAR OR PARKED AND RUNNING. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG MODULE THRU 2007 LANCER. MINE HAS 71K MILES. IS THERE A RECALL IN THE WORKS FOR 2009 MODELS?

65mo ago
Brakes 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED UPON DEPRESSION AS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP HIS BRAKES REPEATEDLY IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HE ALSO APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR ASSISTANCE BEFORE HITTING A TREE STUMP. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A TWEAK IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT NEEDED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO LOW IMPACT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE CONTACT THEN SPOKE TO ROSEVILLE AUTOMALL(700 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661) AND THE MANUFACTURER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V077000(SERVICE BRAKES, AIR); THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.*DT*JB

68mo ago
Engine 1

HAVING NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS CAN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MINUTES ON THE FREEWAY OR ELSE MY CAR STARTS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AND LOSES POWER SHIFTING AT HIGH RPMS

69mo ago
Body 2

SUB FRAME IS BAD ON THE CAR. HAD 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AND STATE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES NO RESOLUTION...

70mo ago
Brakes 2

THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING, BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE STILL OPERATING. THE CAR FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE ECU, PART NUMBER 8637C096 IS WHAT IS IN MY VEHICLE. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR A 2009 LANCER, SR-15-002, FOR THE ECU BUT BECAUSE OF THE PART NUMBER (8637A826) DIFFERENCE THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE MY ECU THAT IS FAULTY. UPON FURTHER PERSONAL INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THE ECU FOR LANCERS;10091781, 10158957, 10142736, 10117850, 10158956, 10158955, 10142736, 10158957. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS HAVE REPORTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THAT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE. (HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/MITSUBISHI/LANCER/2009/ELECTRICAL/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM.SHTML) PART NUMBERS ARE "NOT TYPICALLY GIVEN OUT" I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2020. THE REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER I WAS GIVEN WOULD BE 8637C496. HOWEVER, THIS PART MUST BE PROGRAMMED BY A LISCENED DEALER....THIS MONOPOLY OF PARTS, REFUSAL TO GIVE OUT PART IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS, AND EXTREME COST (OF THE PART ~$870) HAS CAUSED PEOPLE TO BE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR WHILE THE MANUFACTURE IS ESSENTIALLY NOT COVERING THE COST OF THE SAFETY CONCERN AND PUTS THE COST OF REPAIR ON THE CONSUMER.. OR THE VEHICLE CANNOT PASS INSPECTION AND THEREFOR CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE IN SERVICE. I WILL NOT OWN ANOTHER MITSUBISHI BECAUSE OF THIS. MY HUSBAND PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND ALL SAFETY RECALLS, SERVICE, AND EVEN TIRE ROTATIONS HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED ON THIS CAR. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS COMPLETED, AND I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP TO RETURN HOME THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER MY CAR WAS PARKED AND THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AT THIS TIME MY 2009 LANCER IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THE PART TO REPLACE.

70mo ago
Electrical 4

WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. THEY WOULD CUT OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WOULD STAY ON WHEN CAR AND LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF AND WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE RELAY OUT TO GET THEM TURNED OFF. THEY WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS ON OR OFF. REPLACED NUMEROUS RELAYS, RETURNED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH THREE TIMES. THIS CAUSED OUR SON TO HAVE A WRECK AS THE LOW BEAMS LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND A CAR NOT SEEING HIM PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. STARTED A 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AND NOTHING BEING DONE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURS OR DEATH FROM ACCIDENT.

71mo ago
Body 2

I GOT RECALL ABOUT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR MY MITSUBISHI 2009 LANCER. IT SAID THAT IT APPLIES TO ALL CARS IF EXPOSED FOR LONG TERM TO SNOW MELT WATER AND ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS. IT SAYS IN THE RECALL THAT A DETACHED FRONT CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH. MY CAR WAS EXPOSED TO SNOW MELT AND ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS FOR TWO YEARS IN SOUTH KOREA, ONE TEAR IN MISSOURI, AND SEVEN YEARS IN NEW YORK. OAHU DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HELP AND SAID THAT THIS RECALL APPLIES TO THE CARS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN JAPAN ONLY. I CALLED NJ DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY SAID THAT WE SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN IMMEDIATELY AND THEY WILL HELP WITH THIS SAFETY RECALL. CURRENTLY I LIVE ON OAHU, HAWAII AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE CAR AND IGNORE THIS SAFETY RECALL. WHY ONE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE CAR AND AWARE OF SAFETY RECALL WHILE OTHER IN HAWAII WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE, REFUSING TO FIX IT. PLEASE HELP

72mo ago
Electrical 4

WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS NEW RECALL IN JULY 2020 A DETACHED FRONT CONTROL ARM MAY MAKE YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR .MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF HER CAR BECAUSE THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR AND WRECKED ON 6/26/2020 HER AIR BAGS ON PASSENGER SIDE CAME OUT WHEN SHE WENT OFF THE ROAD IN A DITCH. SHE WAS DRIVING IN CLEAR CONDITIONS AT 55 MPH AND THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE STARTED TO SHAKE. SHE WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF HER CAR. AND HAS A COURT DATE WITH RECKLESS DRIVING. I CAN GIVE YOU THE VA COURT ID FOR THE DETAILS OF THIS.

72mo ago
Body 1

VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUST ON CROSS MEMBERS WHIHC IS A RECALL ITEM SR-20-003 FOR LANCERS. CURRENTLY MY WEHICLE IS NOT LISTED AS A PART OF THIS BUT SHOULD BE. SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL SAME YEARS....

73mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR UPON TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM. MAX MADSEN'S AURORA MITSUBISHI (3990 OGDEN AVE, AURORA, IL 60504) WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V233000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED WHEN HEAT WAS TURNED ON ABNORMAL NOISE WOULD COME ON. BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED.*JB

74mo ago
Electrical 1

HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. *TR

75mo ago
Transmission 1

THE FOLLOWING IS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK ACKNOWLEDGED BY MITSUBISHI AND ADDRESSED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN. THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL OF THE DIPSTICK. (HTTPS://MITSUBISHITECHINFO.COM/DATA/TECH_DOCS/2010/52005696/HTML/520056966.HTM) AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEEDS, 70MPH AND UNDER, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND A SLOW DOWN WARNING APPEARED. I PULLED OVER, LIFTED THE HOOD AND LET IT COOL DOWN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES; THE WARNING HAD DISAPPEARED. I RESUMED DRIVING AT SPEEDS 45 AND UNDER, AND WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL THE TRANSMISSION WHINED VERY LOUDLY AND I LOST SO MUCH POWER THAT THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW TO A STOP ON THE ROAD. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE SLOW DOWN LIGHT WAS NOT ON, BUT I DID RECEIVE ENGINE CODE P0741. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, I LET IT COOL DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE THEN TOOK AN EXIT. WITH NO SLOW DOWN WARNING, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WHINED VERY LOUDLY AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. AN 18 WHEELER WAS ONCOMING AND WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP. THANKFULLY, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY, BUT IT WAS CLOSE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FREQUENTLY OVERHEATED SINCE I'VE HAD IT WHEN IT HAD ONLY 30,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTERS HAVE BEEN REGULARLY CHANGED PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL. WHILE IT HAS A REBUILT TITLE, THERE WAS ONLY EXTERIOR DAMAGE AND NO PART OF THE POWER TRAIN WAS EVER DAMAGED. I DISCOVERED THE SERVICE BULLETIN FROM RESEARCH AND FORUMS. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE, BUT MOST JUST ASSUMED THE FLUID NEEDED TO BE CHANGED MORE THAN THE MANUAL RECOMMENDED. THE DEFECT AND THE OVERHEATING THAT RESULTS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I'VE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED. IT'S AN ORIGINAL FACTORY DEFECT THAT IS COMPLETELY UNAFFECTED BY MILEAGE OR WEAR AND TEAR

78mo ago
Brakes 4

I WAS ON THE 4TH FLOOR OF A PARKING GARAGE IN MY TOWN AND WAS GOING UP TO THE TOP LEVEL. AS I AM ABOUT TO TURN THE CORNER, I REALIZE I AM GOING A BIT FASTER THAN I THOUGHT. SO I APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES WHICH DID NOT WORK AS FAST AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THE TOW TRUCK MAN LATER TOLD ME THAT I WAS GOING AROUND 20 TO 30 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT. WHEN I HIT THE PILLAR IN FRONT OF ME, THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT TIGHTEN AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THIS MEANT THAT MY WHOLE BODY SNAPPED FORWARD AND IMPACTED COLLARBONE FIRST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE FELT NUMB AND I WAS LEFT WITH A SWOLLEN COLLARBONE AND CONTUSIONS FROM THE IMPACT.

80mo ago
Body 1

RUSTED CROSSMEMBER, CONTROL ARMS, BRACES HOLDING THE GAS TANK. SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE RUST UNDERNEATH MY CAR (120K MILES CALIFORNIA VEHICLE) RUST MAY HAVE EATEN THROUGH THE METALS UNDERNEATH MY CAR AND IM SCARED TO DRIVE WITH THESE RUST PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT FAIL WHEN IM ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A BAD ACCIDENT CAUSING MY LIFE AND OTHER PEOPLES LIFE ON THE LINE. I DONT DRIVE MY CAR NO MORE THAN 10 MILES ANYMORE DUE TO THIS RUST PROBLEM. THE PICTURE I PROVIDED DOESNT LOOK THAT BAD BUT LIFTING THE CAR UP IN THE AIR GOING UNDERNEATH WILL GIVE YOU THE IDEA OF HOW BAD IT IS. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES THAT ARE ALMOST 30 YEARS OLDER THAN THE CURRENT CAR THAT I HAVE AND I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH RUST UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND IM WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY. I HOPE THIS GETS TAKEN ACTION AND WILL GIVE ME ANY LEADS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

82mo ago

121 total

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