2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Complaint Log

I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COLLAPSED IN MY LAP WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT HAPPENED. SAID IT WAS THE LATCH IN MY COLUMN, HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN 500+ PART, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. *AK

THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 15000 AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 32000 MILES. *AK THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. *NM

DT: 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. BRAKES FAILED TWICE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MITSUBISHI SERVICE DEALER TWICE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUR TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE PUSH ROD WAS INCORRECTLY SPECIFIED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT BASICALLY THE WRONG PART WAS PUT ON THE VEHICLE. IT HAD THE WRONG BRAKES INSTALLED. THIS PROBLEM WAS LISTED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 0235003. CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE BRAKES. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TIRE AXLE. THIS ONLY OCCURED WHEN CONSUMER PUSHED ON THE BRAKES. THE ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

VEHICLE 'T-BONED' A TAXI CAUSING EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

AIR BAGS 2002 MITS . LANCER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY MY CAR WAS HIT FROM THE REAR CAUSING IT TO HIT A CEMENT RETAINING WALL FROM THE FRONT AND SIDES AND NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SURGERIES FROM THE FAILED AIR BAGS. *TR

INTERMITTENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED INTO DRIVER'S LAP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THIS WAS UNUSUAL, WE NEVER HEARD A CASE LIKE THIS PROBLEM.*AK

I BOUGHT A NEW 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND AFTER ONE MONTH STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SURGES FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT SINCE IT WASNT DOING IT AT REGULAR OCCURENCES, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG BY DRIVING IT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM WORSENED SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES. I FELT INSULTED AS THOUGH I COULDNT TELL WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MY CAR. I FINALLY GAVE UP AND DECIDED IF THE PROBLEM CAUSED DAMAGE, MAYBE THEN THEY WOULD LISTEN TO ME. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED FOR 2 YEARS UNTIL I GAVE UP AND ONCE AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION AND FLUID CHANGED BEFORE CHECKING IT FOR FURTHER PROBLEMS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE COST OF THIS WOULD BE $170.00. I FELT THIS WAS UNFAIR SINCE I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM ONLY ONE MONTH AFTER THE PURCHASE . I CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND SPOKE TO MAINTENANCE WHO TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I THEN ASKED WHETHER MY WARRANTY WOULD BE VOIDED IF I HAD IT DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST. SHE ASSURED ME IT MUST BE DONE BY A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. I TOLD HER OF 4 OTHER POEPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT SHE TOLD ME THAT EACH CAR WAS INDIVIDUAL AND IT DIDNT MEAN THAT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUES CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE GOTTEN NO RESOLVE OVER THIS AND FEEL ITS NOT FAIR TO HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HIGH PRICE FOR A PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN THE BEGINNING. *AK

CAR SHIFTS VERY HARD, NOT LIKE HOW A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE SHOULD. HAS A "POPPING" SOUND TO ACCOMPANY THE HARD SHIFT. SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS "GRINDED" BETWEEN SHIFTS. ENGINE HAD REVED TO 4000-5000 RPM'S FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS WITH 19000 MILES AND IT IS ONLY A YEAR OLD. HAS TAKEN OFF ON ME ONCE, WHERE I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE BACK END OF A CAR WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE "PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED." MEANWHILE EVERY TIME I GET INTO THE CAR, THE SHIFTING GETS WORSE. TECH LINE SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM, AND TOLD THE DEALER THAT DROPPING OUT THE TRANNIE WOULD ACCOMPLISH NOTHING AND WOULD BE A WASTE OF TIME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF, NUTS AND BOLTS BROKE AND THE SEAL CAME OFF. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR HEAD-ON COLLISION INTO A DITCH. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

PAINT IS CHIPPING ALL OVER THE BODY, ESPECIALLY ON THE HOOD. THE COMPANY REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHEAP PAINT. THE PAINT WILL CHIP FOR NO REASON OR WHENEVER BIRD DROPPINGS OR TREE SAP COME IN CONTACT, EVEN IF YOU CLEAN IT RIGHT OFF. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH BAD PAINTG. *AK

I HAD A 2002 MITS LANCER PURCHASE ON NOVEMBER 2001 HAS ONLY 14.800 MILES AND MY FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE GONE . *JB

VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, BUT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *LA THE DRIVER DIDN'T SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. CONSUMER QUESTIONED WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. (FATHER ON BEHALF ON HIS DAUGHTER). *PH

CAR ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE AND TOOK OFF WHILE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. LOCAL DEALERSHIP MITSUBISHI OF ORANGE PARK JACKSONVILLE FLA KEPT CAR FOR FROM 3/11/03 UNTIL 3/25/03 TO TRY TO MAKE CAR DUPLICATE SITUATION BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY KEPT IN TOUCH WITH MITSUBISHI TECH SUPPORT BUT NOTHING COULD BE DETERMINED TO WHY CAR DID SUCH A STRANGE THING. THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN ON CARS WHILE IN MOTION, ESPECIALLY ON OLDER MODELS.

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION OF MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. SERVICE TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED A BULLETIN FROM MITSUBISHI REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. APPARENTLY BOTH ARE BAD ON MY AUTOMOBILE. THE RECOMMENDED FIX TO THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN IS A SPECIAL LUBE, HOWEVER AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS UNDER A FULL BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY, SERVICE HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR OVER A MONTH, DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND PROTESTS BY ME. THEY ARE INSTEAD "WAITING FOR MITSUBISHI TO TELL THEM HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM". IN THE MEANTIME I AM FORCED TO DRIVE A DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILE. *JB

VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, PULLING OUT WHEN A TRUCK "T-BONED" THE CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. CAR WAS TOTALLED.*AK

JUNE 17, 2003 TO: PERUZZI MITSUBISHI ATTENTION: [XXX] 165 LINCOLN HWY FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 19030 DEAR [XXX], WE PURCHASED A MITSUBISHI LANCER IN SEPTEMBER 2002 FROM PERUZZI MITSUBISHI, LOCATED AT 165 LINCOLN HWY, FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 19030. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD 2,074 MILES ON IT. WHEN I ASKED, THE SALESMAN TOLD US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND THE MILES WERE FROM USING THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AS A DEMONSTRATION CAR. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR SERVICE. IT WAS DRIVEN IN ON ONE OCCASION AND TOWED IN TWICE. THE DATES OF SERVICE ARE AS FOLLOWS 02/25/03, 06/09/03 AND 06/17/03. THE PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME, THE CAR STALLS OUT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING MY FIANCE TO FEAR DRIVING IT. ALSO, BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (EVERY 3,000 MILES) THE CAR LOOSES BETWEEN ONE AND ONE HALF QUARTS OF OIL. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM I WAS TOLD, ALL THREE TIMES, THAT THIS IS NORMAL OIL LOSS. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE STILL NOT CHECKED FOR OIL LEAKS. ON 6/18/2003, AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, I DECIDED TO CHECK INTO THE VEHICLE'S HISTORY. I USED CARFAX.COM AND FOUND SOME VERY DISTURBING NEWS. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD AT LEAST THREE PREVIOUS OWNERS AND IS NOT THE BRAND NEW CAR I WAS LEAD TO BELIEVE. IT STARTED OUT IN PLEASANTVILLE NJ, AND THEN IT WAS REGISTERED IN ARIZONA, WHERE IT WAS SOLD AT AUCTION WITH 1,902 MILES ON IT AND FINALLY ENDED UP AT PERUZZI MITSUBISHI, WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO US UNDER FALSE PRETENSES, AND THAT PERUZZI MITSUBISHI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EITHER REPLACING THE VEHICLE WITH A BRAND NEW ONE OR GIVING US OUR MONEY BACK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

PAINT IS CHIPPING IN FRONT. PAINT ALL OVER THE CAR IS VERY EASILY CHIPPED,SCRATCHED ETC. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH SUCH A LOUSY PAINT JOB. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PAINT CHIPS IN THE FRONT. BUT YOUR FINGERNAIL CAN SCRATCH THE PAINT ALL OVER THE CAR. IT'S WORTHLESS. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT HER. THE DUAL AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

THE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THE PART WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED EXISTS. *AK THE VEHICLE LEFT BLACK OIL SPOTS ON THE GARAGE GROUND NEAR ALL FOUR TIRES THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS FROM EXCESS FACTORY OVER COATING. THE BRAKES SQUEALED CONTINUOUSLY, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY AND A NAIL WAS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR TIRE AND COULDN'T BE REPAIRED BECAUSE TO THE FRONT AND REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS GETTING DIFFERENT OPINIONS REGARDING THE STRUTS. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CALIPERS AND OR BRAKE DESIGN WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT. *SCC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS WOULD FOG UP ON THE OUTSIDE WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON. THE PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN WHILE VEHICLE IS IDLING. A RENTAL VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE. MR

CONSUMER STATES TRAVELLING APPROX 25-30MPH AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

LOWER CONTROL ARM ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE BUCKLED UNDER RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE STRIKING A CURB AT ~55 MPH. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY CITING THERE IS NO PROOF THAT HITTING THE CURB DID NOT CAUSE THE DAMAGE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SIMILIAR INCIDENT THE PREVIOUS WEEK INVOLVING ANOTHER LANCER. ON THIS VEHICLE THE FAILURE WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE ALSO RESULTED IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AS WELL AS STRIKING AN OBJECT WITH THE VEHICLE. DT

VEHICLE REQUIRES EXTREME PEDAL PRESSURE TO STOP. VEHICLE HAS A LONG EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DOES NOT MATTER IF BRAKES ARE COLD OR HOT. ISSUE BEGAN WHEN CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES ON IT. BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITH SYSTEM. VEHICLE NOW HAS 22000 AND CONDITION STILL EXISTS AND IS WORSENING. *JB

MR

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED WHILE SLOWING DOWN WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND THE CAR TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. *TS *NLM

PAINT CRACKS AND CHIPS EASILY; TREE SAP AND BIRD DROPPINGS EAT THE PAINT EVEN IF WASHED OFF THE SAME DAY; PAINT IS VERY THIN. *NLM

THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER CONTROL KNOB WAS HARD TO TURN FROM THE MOMENT WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS SINCE BROKE OFF. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

HAVING A PROBLEM WITH REAR SUSPENSION. THE ENTIRE BACK END SOUNDS AS IF THE FRAME IS BROKEN. WAS ASSURED BY MITSU SERVICE THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED BEARINGS AND BUSHINGS AND PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. THIS IS A 2002 LANCER OZ WITH 30000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR OF THIS AGE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I FEEL IF THERE ARE TWO COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE THERE ARE MOST CERTAINLY DOZENS MORE OUT THERE OR MORE TO COME.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FAILURES REGARDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY TIGHTENED THE SUSPENSION STEERING. ONE YEAR LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK AND FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. TWO YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES HAD A TEN PERCENT LOSS IN BRAKING POWER. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESURFACED BOTH REAR DRUMS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,840 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 12/22/08 *CN UPDATED 12/29/08. *JB

CAR WAS HIT ON SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN DEATH OF PASSENGER. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION,NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED... WHAT IS CAUSING HAS NOT BEEN FOUND...

WHILE ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED INTO DRIVER'S LAP WHILE MAKING A TURN. MECHANIC STATED ADJUSTER WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAITON.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS NOISE HASN'T GONE AWAY NO MATTER WHICH BRAND OF OIL FILTER OR WEIGHT/BRAND OF OIL I USE. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS ENGINE. I TEST DROVE AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE AND IT PURRED LIKE A KITTEN. SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE STALLING AND BRUSHING ME OFF.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CAN FILL UP HER GAS TANK ONE DAY AND, BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REFUELED. PERIODICALLY, THE CONTACT SMELLS GASOLINE IN HER VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17.

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION.*AK

THIS ENGINE HAS PISTON SLAP AND VALVETRAIN NOISE ON COLD STARTS. THE DISTRICT REP REFUSES TO ALLOW THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NLM

SPRINGS IN SEAT ARE MAKING NOISE DUE TO RUSTING.

RIGHT & LEFT REAR END LINKS/WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. DT

PAINT CHIPS EASILY ON ANY PANEL. DT

LUG NUTS. DT

VEHICLE IS RUSTING AT FACTORY SEAMS/WELDS FOR FRONT FRAME RAILS & APRON. DT

WITH THE AIR CONDITION ON, THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP, WHICH WAS BELIEVED TO BE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS, ALSO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. SCC *JB

THE ENGINE REVVED, AND THEN EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED OUT INTO TRAFFIC. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK