2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Complaint Log

The contact's daughter owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she felt an air draft inside of the vehicle. The contact's daughter attempted to close the sunroof when she noticed that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the sunroof part was no longer manufactured and they were unable to get the part to perform the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 221,660.

SMOG STATION INSPECTION REPORT ;; RECALL ONREPROGRAM PCM AND REPLACE FAN CONTROLLER

THERE HAS NO BEEN AN INCIDENT YET. THE VEHICLE RATTLES IN THE FRONT END, EXACTLY WHERE THE RECALLED PART IS AT. I TOOK IT TO THE LICENSED DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS TOLD WAS QUALIFIED TO REPLACE THE PART AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT CLAIMING THAT THE VEHICLE IS TOO RUSTY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO LIFT IT UP ON THE AIR. I HAD JUST HAD 4 NEW TIRES PUT ON IT RECENTLY AND THEY USED A CAR LIFT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE THE PART REPLACED BECAUSE NOW I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DEFECT CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT IS NOT REPLACED. THE REASON IT IS BEING RECALLED IS BECAUSE IT IS PRONE TO RUST AND MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MITSUBISHI THAT HAS DONE THIS. MY EX'S 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE ALSO HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER. I NEED TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING.

THERE'S A LOT OF POPING UNDERNEATH FRONT END AND THERE'S A RECALL AL ON THE CONTROL ARMS

TAKATS RECALL .MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERSR-16-003

FRONT LOWER ENGINE SUPPORT & CRADLE ARE RUSTED OUT ALONG WITH THE CROSS MEMBER. I CAN FURNISH PICTURES IF NECESSARY.

MY HUSBAND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND OVER CORRECTED HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND A TREE AND THIS PUSHED HIM BACK INTO THE ROAD AND SPIN SHOOTING HIM INTO ANOTHER EMBANKMENT AND THIS RESULTED IN HIM BEING FORCED BACKWARDS AND INTO ANOTHER DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD HITTING A MAILBOX AND ANOTHER DITCH. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BROKE AS IF HE WAS LAYING DOWN TO SLEEP BUT IT WAS BROKE INTO THIS POSITION. HE HIT HIS FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND INJURED HIS EYE SOME HOW AND THE HOSPITAL SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. WHY DID HIS SEAT GET THROWED BACK LIKE THAT AND BREAK PLEASE EXPLAIN. I COULD HAVE LOST MY HUSBAND..

BRAKES LOCKED UP AND SUBFRAME SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY VEHICLE JANUARY 2017. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT TRANSITTOWNE MITSUBISHI AT 7428 TRANSIT RD. WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. 14221. THEY DO NOT ANSWER THEIR PHONE OR EMAILS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) IN AUGUST. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FROM THE SEAM. MOST OF THE FUEL IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST PIPE. FUEL CAN BE SMELLED ALL AROUND THE VEHICLE AND INSIDE THE CAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RPM'S IDLED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

RECALL INFO: "THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES OF THE FRONT CROSS MEMBERS USED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES IF EXPOSED LONG TERM TO SNOW MELT WATER AND ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS MAY CORRODE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF THE RUST PROTECTION. SHOULD CORROSION OCCUR, A LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD BECOME DETACHED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POTENTIAL COLLISION. IN MAY 2016 WE HAD TO HAVE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FRONT SWAY BARK LINK ASSEMBLY." I BELIEVE THIS IS ALL PART OF THE CORROSION MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE RECALL. CAR WAS MOVING WHEN LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED. $285.00 TO REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM & FRONT SWAY BAR LINK. *TR

SLAVE CYLINDER INTERNAL AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE INTERNAL SLAVE CYLINDERS IN THESE MODEL YEARS BEFORE MITSUBISHI REALIZED THEY NEEDED TO MAKE THEM EXTERNAL. HAVING TO REPLACE THEM IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND REQUIRES NEW CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF THE FLUID THE CYLINDER LEAKS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE IF THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO CONTINUE BUYING THEIR VEHICLES. I FOR ONE WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI BECAUSE THE ONLY RECAP THEY HAVE ACTUALLY SENT ME WAS FOR THE CONTROL ARMS THAT I ALREADY REPLACED ON MY OWN BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY SENT ME THE RECALL THEY ALSO NOTED ON THERE THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR ANY DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT. VERY AGGRAVATED WITH THIS COMPANY AND THINK THEY SHOULD TREAT OWNERS AND OUR SAFETY AS A HIGHER PRIORITY. THIS SLAVE CYLINDER ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR BECAUSE ALL THE FLUID WAS BEING SQUIRTED INTO THE REST OF THE CLUTCH COMPONENTS. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WISHING I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NOW. TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND OUR SAFETY MITSUBISHI OR YOU WILL KEEP LOSING THEM ONE BY ONE. IT IS AN EASY FIX FOR YOU TO RECALL THESE INTERNAL JUNK SLAVE CYLINDERS AND EITHER REPLACE THEM AT THE VERY LEAST OR EVEN CONVERT THEM TO EXTERNAL LIKE YOU DID A YEAR OR TWO AFTER YOU OBVIOUSLY REALIZED YOUR MISTAKE AND BAD IDEA.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING EMISSIONS RECALL. SECOND IS THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES OF THE FRONT CROSS MEMBERS USED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. IT WAS A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING. I NEED TO GET MY CAR FIX.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK ON BUT HAD TO PRESS HARD TO KEEP IT IN PLACE MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REATTACH IT BUT HAD TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG AND NOW COST $700 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN AIR BAG AND HORN. I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE REGARDING THIS IS THIS SOMETHING BEING REVIEWED OR A RECALL. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

WAS GOING TO THE GAS STATION TO GET GAS AND CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THEN ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING THEN. RAN INTO A DITCH. CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM ENGINE. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESE CARS OR I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT ONE. BIGGEST PAIN I'VE EVER OWNED! THE ENGINE IS WRECKED. I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR. I HAVE NO CAR NOW, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? *TR

THE KNOBS TO CONTROL THE HEATING AND DEFOGGING IS BROKEN. IT HAS BEEN UNUSUALLY COLD IN GEORGIA THIS WINTER AND THE DEFOGGERS ONLY EMIT COLD AIR. I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING AROUND 6:10AM AND I WARM THE CAR BEFORE MY 7YR. GETS IN. NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE BLANKETS FOR HER BECAUSE THE CAR NEVER WARMS UP! MY SISTER LIVES HERE TOO AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ON HER 2003 LANCER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE KNOBS THEY ARE POORLY MANUFACTURED. THANK GOD I DON'T LIVE IN CHICAGO OR BUFFALO, WE COULD LITERALLY FREEZE TO DEATH IN OUR CAR, JUST DRIVING AROUND! I TRIED TO SUPER GLUE THEM BACK TOGETHER, BUT I SEE THEIR IS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A MOTHER BOARD BEHIND THE KNOBS AND MAYBE THE CONNECTION WAS LOST WHEN THE TWO KNOBS BROKE. I HAVE HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE HEATING COOL AND THE THERMOSTAT AND HE SUGGESTED GOING ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. I DID TO KNOW AVAIL, MITSUBISHI DOES NOT OFFER REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE KNOBS, SO WHAT DO I DO? I HOPE MITSUBISHI DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS TO NO FAULT OF THE OWNER THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE KNOBS THEY ARE POOR QUALITY AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I LOVE THE LANCER IT HAS SERVED ME WELL OVER THE YEAR AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE THEM. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

VARIABLE TEMPERATURE KNOB/SHAFT BROKE ON HEATER/A/C CONTROL MODULE BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO TURN. ALWAYS WAS HARD TO TURN SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE 4 YEARS AGO. MAKES DEFOGGING OF WINDOWS MORE DIFFICULT AND HAS CAUSED VISIBILITY PROBLEMS IN CERTAIN TYPES OF DAMP CONDITIONS. BAD DESIGN WHICH MITSUBISHI SHOULD FIX. *TR

TO AVOID CONTACT WITH A DEER I HIT THE BRAKES SLIDING INTO A UTILITY POLE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO VEHICLE NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. *TR

I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A SECOND OWNER AS I WAS TOLD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING FUNNY AT FIRST AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SITTING FOR A WHILE. THE CAR HAD ONLY 115,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED, THE REASON I BOUGHT IT WITH LOW MILES AND APPEARANCE. LAST WEEK WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN, THE CAR ACTED EVEN FUNNIER UNTIL IT STALLED: THE CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE IN ANY FORWARD GEARS, IT WILL ONLY ENGAGE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE FACT, I WAS TOLD BY MANY SOURCES THAT THE 2002-2005 LANCERS HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN MANY WAYS. I NEED TO KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE AND WHAT COULD BE DONE ESPECIALLY AFTER I LOOKED AT THE BLOGS ABOUT WHAT'S SO NAMED " LANCERS". IT WILL BE A SHAME FOR A MANUFACTURER TO RELEASE A CAR IN THE MARKET WITH SUCH PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2002 LANCERS TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB BROKE THIS MORNING WHILE I WAS TRYING TO ENGAGE THE HEAT PORTION OF THE TEMPERATURE GAGE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE LANCER. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE, MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ON THE SYSTEM TO FIX IT. NOW I HAVE NO HEAT IN THE WINTER AND THE DEALER WANTS $1000+ TO FIX THE SYSTEM THAT WAS NEVER ENGINEERED PROPERLY. *TR

OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER, CODE P0421, SHOWED AFTER FAILURE OF EMISSIONS TEST. I CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AFTER FINDING THIS CODE WAS FOR A RECALL IN AUG. 05 EMR-05-001/003, AN EMISSION RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, "MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED DAMAGE TO THE WARM-UP CAT CONVERTER AND SUBSEQUENT ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP." MITSUBISHI INFORMED ME THIS RECALL WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THAT IT EXPIRED IN 2006, ALSO, THAT IT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 8 YRS OR 100,000 MI. I EXPLAINED TO THEM I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR. THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT INFORMING THEM I WAS THE OWNER, SO I COULD BE NOTIFIED. HOWEVER, NHTSA SAYS OWNERS ARE NOTIFIED THROUGH REGISTRATION RECORDS. THEY LATER STATED THEY HAD SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE IN AUG. 2005. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON ANY OF THE THREE RECALLS FOR MY CAR. THIS CAR HIT 100,000 MI ON 5/10/2008 WHICH WAS BEFORE THE 8YR LIMIT. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY STARTED TO FLASH 2/5/2010, AT 122592 MILES, STILL BEFORE THE 8YR LIMIT. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE GAS CAP NOT SCREWED ON ALL THE WAY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL 06/2011. MITSUBISHI HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CAT, BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES AND THE 8YR LIMIT, OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE HAVE PERFORMED A TUNE-UP OF THE ENGINE, OIL CHANGE, BELT REPLACEMENT, VALVE GASKET REPLACEMENT, AND FLUID FLUSH TO HELP REMEDY THE SITUATION. THE FAN CONTROL, AND PCM REFLASH WERE PERFORMED PER THE OTHER TWO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE KNOB BROKE OFF TWO WEEKS AGO. I CONTACTED MY DEALER WHO STATED THAT I CAN NOT JUST CHANGE THE KNOB I HAVE TO CHANGE THE WHOLE UNIT WHICH WILL COST ME AROUND $ 600.00 PLUS SERVICES FEES TO INSTALL IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE HEATING (AND COOLING) A VEHICLE ALLOWS IT TO BE OPERABLE DURING HOT AND COLD TEMPERATURES. IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO GET COLD. *TR

FUEL FILLER PIPE AND LEVELER VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPALCED DUE TO SMALL LEAK POSSIBLE CRACKED CAUSES PO456 CODE MIL. *TR

MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND I WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND GOT A CODE : P0421 OEM BRAND: DOMESTIC DEFINITION: CATALYST EFFICIENCY LOW BANK 1 EXPLANATION: THE OXYGEN SENSORS MONITOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ABILITY TO STORE OXYGEN. PROBABLE CAUSES: 1- CATALYTIC CONVERTER DEFECTIVE (FAILURE POSSIBLY DUE TO #2, 3, OR 4.) 2- ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING CONDITION. 3- LARGE VACUUM LEAK. 4- ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE INTO EXHAUST-VALVE GUIDE SEALS, PISTON RINGS. I CALLED MITSU AND THEY SAID SINCE MY CAR IS AT 93500 THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED...THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY....MY CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TOO...ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM....AFTER 90 MILES...THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

MY SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED DUE TO LEAKAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AS I WAS DRIVING UPHILL AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL JUST WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR GOT STUCK IN NEUTRAL. ITS COSTING ME 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. THERE IS A TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN MADE A RECALL YET??? IT LOOKS LIKE A QUITE COMMON PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE AND A COSTLY ONE AT THAT. VERY UNFAIR THAT WE ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS WHEN THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT I HAVE SEEN ON OTHER WEBSITES FROM THOUSANDS OF OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCERS FROM 2000- 2005, BUT MAINLY IN THE 2002 MODEL RANGE. THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER CONTROLS SEIZE UP AND EITHER THE CABLE FREEZES UP AND THE CONTROL KNOB SNAPS OFF ON THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE USE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT RATHER FOR THE HEALTH OF THE DRIVER AND THOSE WHO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. THEY COULD FREEZE IN THE WINTER OR GET HEAT STROKE IN THE SUMMER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DEFROSTER/HEATER CONTROL MECHANISM FRACTURED AT THE TOUCH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

I HAVE A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN SINCE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE DETERIORATED. THE KNOB BROKE OFF TWO WEEKS AGO. I CONTACTED MY DEALER WHO STATED THAT I CAN NOT JUST CHANGE THE KNOB I HAVE TO CHANGE THE WHOLE UNIT WHICH WILL COST ME AROUND $ 400.00 PLUS SERVICES FEES TO INSTALL IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE HEATING (AND COOLING) A VEHICLE ALLOWS IT TO BE OPERABLE DURING HOT AND COLD TEMPERATURES. IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO GET COLD. I HAVE SEARCHON THE INTERNET FOR A CHEAPER TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNIT BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 130,000 MILES. HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT REQUIRED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER. 2) THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB BROKE OFF. IT SEEMS LIKE BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE COMMON IN MITSUBISHI LANCERS. *TR

THE SLAVE CYLINDER ON MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN AND I COULD NO LONGER GET MY CAR TO GO INTO GEAR. I HAD TO GET OVER FROM THE LEFT LANE OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER OF THE RIGHT LANE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I HAD TO CUT OTHER DRIVERS OFF AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE SLAVE CYLINDER LEAKED BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE CLUTCH AND NOW THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED TOO. MITSUBISHI KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN IN 2004. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME CAR. *TR

I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER (OZ RALLY) THAT WAS PURCHASED IN 2002. DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF 2009, I NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB WAS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN. ON MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010 IT BROKE COMPLETELY OFF, LEAVING A PARTIAL STUB OF PLASTIC IN THE CONSOLE AND THE REMAINING PLASTIC INSIDE THE KNOB. I FIRST WENT TO TWO AUTO PARTS STORES TO SEE IF THEY CARRIED THIS REPLACEMENT PIECE, AND THEIR PERSONNEL INFORMED ME I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. I THEN WENT TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THE PART COULD NOT BE REPLACED INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IT WOULD COST $311 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CONSOLE IN ADDITION TO THE $150 OR MORE IN LABOR COSTS. I REFUSED TO PAY SUCH AN OUTLANDISH PRICE, CONSIDERING THAT MY CONSOLE WAS IN PERFECTLY WORKING ORDER. I ONLY NEED THE BROKEN PLASTIC MECHANISM REPLACED, NOTHING MORE. AND PAYING APPROXIMATELY $500 TO REPLACE A PLASTIC PIECE IS RIDICULOUS. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I REALIZED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER LANCER OWNERS AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH; APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP LIGHT. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV; AND VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. DURING BRAKING THERE WAS DIFFICULTY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,120. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE BROKE. THE LIKELY CAUSE WAS BINDING OF THE CABLE THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE KNOB. THIS COULD BE DUE TO POOR ROUTING OF THE CABLE OR THE MECHANISM THAT THE CABLE IS ATTACHED. THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS DESIGN DEFECT RANGES FROM $500-1000 AT THE DEALER. *LN

THE HVAC CONTROL UNIT IN MY 02 MITSUBISHI LANCER HAS A MECHANICAL FLAW STARTING WITH THE HEAT /AC KNOBS. THE VACUUM LINE BEHIND THE KNOB IS TOO WEAK TO ACTIVATE THE HEATER CORE LEVER AND DEFROST CONTROLS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY MITSUBISHI AS I HAVE READ THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS IN FORUMS AROUND THE WEB.THE DEFROST ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE OF THESE CONTROLS AND VISIBILITY IS REALLY POOR DURING FALL AND WINTER MONTHS AND THIS IS SOMETHING I CANT FIX MYSELF AND I AM POSTING TO HELP OTHER LANCER DRIVERS AS WELL AS IT IS A PERSISTENT UNDERLYING PROBLEM. *TR

TEMP CONTROL KNOB BROKE, NOT ABLE TO USE HEATER IN THE WINTER AND AIR CONDITIONER IN THE SUMMER. MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP ADVISED WOULD COST APPROX $900 AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. TOO MANY COMPLAINTS W/KNOB ON MITSUBISHI LANCERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE RECALL REPAIR PERTAINING TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURES ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED 150,000, WHICH EXCLUDED THE VEHICLE FROM QUALIFYING FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE "RECALL" WAS NOT FOUND ON THE SAFERCAR.GOV WEBSITE AND MAY HAVE BEEN DEEMED AS A "SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN" INSTEAD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 133,847.

FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, MY WIFE'S CAR HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE HEAT CONTROL. AS I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH DUE TO IT COMPLETELY BREAKING, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH MANY CARS LIKE THIS ONE. I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AN NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED MY MITSUBISHI. IN THE BEGGINGING IT WAS AN ISSUE DUE TO PAYING ATTENTION TO THE KNOB THAT WAS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING TRYING TO GET HEAT OR DEFROST. THEN WHEN THE KNOB BROKE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN THE PIECE OF KNOB WITH PLIERS WHILE DRIVING AND NOW IT WILL BE TRYING TO DRIVE WITH A FROZEN WINDOW IF WE DO NOT GET IT FIXED. I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD COME OUT OF THE CONSUMERS POCKET IF IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MANY OF THESE CARS. IT IS ALSO A SAFTEY ISSUE FOR THE PERSON IN THE CAR AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRIVER BEING DISTRACTED. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN SINCE PURCHASE AND HAS SINCE DETERIORATED. THE KNOB BROKE OFF YESTERDAY RESULTING IN THE TEMPERATURE SETTINGS TO NO LONGER BE OPERABLE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE HEATING (AND COOLING) A VEHICLE ALLOWS IT TO BE OPERABLE DURING STORMS AND DEEP FREEZE TEMPERATURES. *TR

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER WENT BAD I WAS STOCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEARS. VERY COSTLY REPAIR FORCED ME TO REPLACE CLUTCH PLUS THE CYLINDER. *TR

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND IT FINALLY BROKE OFF RESULTING IN A VERY EXPENSIVE $1000 REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCERS AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE FOG AND ICE ON THE WINDOW CANNOT BE CLEARED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS STUCK IN THE COLD POSITION. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH UNCORRECTED WILL HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING CARS WITH FOGGED UP WINDOWS WITH NO WAY TO CLEAR IT. *TR

AC HEATER KNOB BROKE OFF CAUSING A 1,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE ON A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MITSUBISHI WILL NOT BACK THERE PROBLEM. I THINK THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PART AND FIX THE PROBLEM. MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY WILL NOT RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. I THINK IT IS BECAUSE MOST OF THE CONTROLS BREAK OFF ON A/C AND THAT WOULD NOT BE FUN DRIVING IN A BLIZZARD WITH YOUR A/C ON IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON FIGHTING FOR A RECALL OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE TO. *TR

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE FROM HOT TO COLD. IT SEEMS TO STICK AT ONE TEMPERATURE IN THE MIDDLE POSITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE METAL RAILING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. RVK

I DRIVE A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER OZ RALLY AND OUT OF NOWHERE I LOST ALL RESISTANCE IN THE CLUTCH AND WAS STRANDED WITH A BLOWN SLAVE CYLINDER. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

I WAS IN MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MILES AN HOUR AND HIT A YUKON HEAD ON. MY CAR IS COMPLETELY CRUMPLED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR FRONT END ACCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE (THE PREVIOUS ONE IN 2002) AND BOTH TIMES, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. NOTHING WAS DONE BY MITSUBISHI EITHER TIME TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM BOTH BUT I WORRY THAT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO THEM. *TR