2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Complaint Log

A/C HEATER NOB BROKE OFF AFTER SWITCHING IT FROM COLD TO HEAT. *TR

TEMPERATURE KNOB WAS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO TURN, THEN IT BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. NOT A PROBLEM FOR THE SUMMER (IT'S STUCK ON COLD) BUT NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR THE WINTER SO THAT THE CAR CAN DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. TECHNICIAN SAID IT WOULD BE BETWEEN $1500-2000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE DASHBOARD AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE KNOB PANEL PLUS FIX THE REAL PROBLEM WHICH IS THE "AIR MIX DOOR LEVER". APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MISTUBISHI OWNERS AND THE COMPANY HAS NOT DONE A RECALL TO FIX IT; THEREFORE OWNERS ARE DROPPING $1000S OF DOLLARS TO GET THEIR CAR OPERATIONAL FOR SEASONAL TEMP CHANGES. ISN'T IT A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOUR DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK??? *TR

THE HEATER CONTROL KNOB IS BROKEN. I CAN'T ROTATE THE KNOB FROM COLD TO HEAT. IT BEGAN GETTING REALLY DIFFICULT TO TURN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, UNTIL I COULD NO LONGER ROTATE IT ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ARE YOU CAN'T SWITCH THE AIR FROM COOL TO WARM IN CASE YOU'RE DRIVING SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT AND NEED TO TURN ON THE HEATER FOR A LITTLE WHILE. YOUR WINDOWS FOG UP. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, OTHER THAN MY MECHANIC MESSED WITH THE CABLE INSIDE AND NOW MY KNOB IS PERMANENTLY STUCK ON HEAT, WHENEVER I TURN THE FAN ON. A NEW PART FROM MITSUBISHI IS OVER $500. ARE THEY GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL? I KNOW THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME SITUATION ON THEIR HANDS. *TR

THE HEATING/ COOLING KNOB WILL NOT TURN TO HEAT. DEFROST IS MINIMAL, WHICH OBSTRUCTS VIEW WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. HEAT IN CAR IS ABSENT, REQUIRING BLANKET TO BE USED TO KEEP DRIVER WARM IN COLD CHICAGO WINTERS. KNOB MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS A MECHANICAL DESIGN ERROR. MATERIALS INVOLVED ARE PLASTIC AND METAL. WITHOUT HEAT FOR DEFROSTING AND MAINTAINING A COMFORTABLE CABIN TEMPERATURE, DRIVING SAFETY IS COMPROMISED. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL, THANK YOU.

2003 LANCER - HEATER-A/C CONTROL KNOB BROKE AND CANNOT ADJUST TEMPERATURE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD PROMPT A RECALL BY MITSUBISHI - WHY HAS THIS NOT HAPPENED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE? SHOULD THIS BE FORWARDED TO SOME CONSUMER GROUP OR THE NTSB TO INVESTIGATE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE KNOB WAS FRACTURED WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE DEFROST, HEAT, AND AIR CONDITIONING TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHEN DRIVING MY LANCER EITHER ON CITY OR HIGHWAY, IT REFUSES TO SHIFT. THE RPMS GO UP, BUT THE CAR WONT ACCELERATE. IT ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN AS IF I'M PRESSING ON THE BRAKES (AND IM NOT) THEN OUT OF NOWHERE THE GEAR WILL SHIFT AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME. THE LAST TIME IT DID IT I RAN INTO A CAR. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD. WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES THE CAR ALMOST STOPS, THEN JUMPS FORWARD ABOUT 2 FEET BEFORE ACTUALLY STOPPING. THIS IS A HORRIBLE THING TO DO TO A DRIVER. THE CAR LITERALLY HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I'VE SEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND ALL OF THEM SAY THAT THEIR TRANSMISSION DIED COMPLETELY THUS LEAVING THEIR CAR PERMANENTLY MOTIONLESS. I CAN'T EVEN LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THIS FIXED...I CAN ONLY LOOK FORWARD TO.....NOTHING. I CAN'T SELL THE CAR NOR GET A NEW ONE BECAUSE I'VE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS LANCER AND NOTHING FIXES IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE PADS, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE TIRES, THE GAS PEDAL LINE, AND AIR IN THE BRAKES... I HAD ALL OF THESE THINGS REPLACE AND NO CHEAP COSTS AND IT'S STILL NOT FIXED. PLEASE! ORDER MITSUBISHI TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION! IT SHOULD BE A CRIME TO SELL SUCH A DEFECTIVE AND DEADLY PRODUCT. MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED! ALSO, WHEN THE CAR'S RPMS ARE ABOVE 4000, THE POWER STEERING DIES AND I CANNOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, THUS I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE HENDERSON NV DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO TYPE OF RECALL AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE FINE....I'VE NEARLY CRASHED AND PROBABLY COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE COUNTLESS TIMES. COUNTLESS. MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE BANNED FROM MAKING VEHICLES IN AMERICA! *TR

THE CLUTCH CYLINDER RELEASE KEEPS LEAKING UNTIL IT WONT CLUTCH. YOU CANT SHIFT GEARS. ITS HAPPENEDD 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE CAR ISN'T USED FOR ANY TYPE OF RACING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH POWER, JUST FOR REGULAR EVERYDAY DRIVING. I'VE TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT HAS NO WARRANTY ANYMORE BUT THE CARS DEFECTIVE AND THAT IS THEIR PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN READING AND IT SEEMS MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

SEATBELTS, IN CARS& PICKUPS OF TODAY, THE CLIP ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS UNDER PERSON SETTING THERE, NO WAY TO FASTEN SEATBELT. IN OLDER CARS & PICKUPS IT STUCK UP WHERE YOU COULD FASTEN IT,IN MY WIFE'S CAR I CANNOT FASTEN IT, JUST CAN IN MY PICKUP. ALSO THE NEW DRIVING LIGHTS, ((ADD ONS)) WHEN PICKUPS COMES UP BEHIND YOU, NO WAY TO SEE, IT BLINDS YOU. REASON DEATH RATE HAS FALLEN,!!!! PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD GAS TO DRIVE AS MUCH!!!!!!!!!! LESS MILES, LESS DEATHS. HOPE YOU DO SOMETHING SEAT BELTS!!!! I'VE PAID MY LAST TICKET FOR NO SEAT BELT. IF I HAVE TO I'LL FILE A CIVIL RIGHTS CASE NEXT TIME I GET A TICKET, GET SEAT BELT LAW THREW OUT. I THINK BELTS SAVE LIVES, BUT THEY NEED TO BE MADE SAFE TO USE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, THANK YOU, HAVE A NICE DAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG DID. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. UPDATED 10/21/10. LJ THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. UPDATED 10/26/10*JB

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. THE TEMPERATURE KNOB BROKE OFF WHILE ADJUSTING FROM COLD TO WARM. MY CAR IS NOW STUCK WITH THE AC ON COLD, THIS ISN'T SO MUCH OF A PROBLEM IN THE SUMMER BUT IT IS GETTING RATHER COLD NOW AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE SOME HEAT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DEFROST IS NOW USELESS UNLESS IT NEEDS TO BE ON COLD WHICH IS PRETTY INEFFECTIVE IN THE WINTER TIME. THIS PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING IN 2009 WHERE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND FINALLY IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR IT COMPLETELY BROKE. *TR

THE A/C KNOB ON THIS CAR HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND HAS NOW BROKE OFF. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY STIFF WHEN GOING FROM A/C TO HEAT AND NOW DUE TO BEING USED WITH SUCH FORCE REPEATEDLY IT HAS BROKE OFF, THE VENT SELECTOR HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE ITS SMOOTH AND TRANSITIONS EASILY AFTER ALL THESE FEATURES ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE VEHICLE MORE COMFORTABLE AND SAFE AND WARM ON COLD NIGHTS... I JUST WENT TO A SITE WHERE AT LEAST 150 PEOPLE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART IS OVER 200$ FROM A DEALER AND THE DEALER CHARGES OVER 700-800$ TO REPLACE THE PART(TALK ABOUT A RACKET) AND YET WITH SOOOO MANY COMPLAINTS I FEEL BAD FOR PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT ARE STUCK IN THIS VEHICLE DRIVING UNDER MISERABLE AND YES UNSAFE CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T DEFROST THEIR WINDSHIELD OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HARD TIME MAINTAINING BODY TEMPERATURE... A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED A LONG TIME AGO, ESPECIALLY IF THE MANUFACTURER HAS SINCE DEVELOPED A "REPAIR KIT" (IN OTHER WORDS HERE'S THE FIX TO SOMETHING WE KNOW DOESN'T WORK BUT WE WANT ALL YOU HARD WORKING PEOPLE TO PAY FOR IT) SO AGAIN LETS SCREW THE LITTLE GUY RIGHT? *TR

MULTIPLE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ACTIVATED SIMPLTANEOUSLY (ABS, SRS, BATTERY, EMERGENCY BRAKE) AT THE SAME TIME THE HORN AND WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED IT WAS QUITE DISORIENTING AND HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN A RAINSTORM! QUITE UNSAFE.

I'D BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE TEMPERATURE KNOB ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER FOR A WHILE. THEN, IT BROKE OFF. I FOUND OUT THAT MITSUBISHI IS "AWARE OF THE PROBLEM", EVEN MAKING A REPAIR KIT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T ISSUED A RECALL, & IT COST ME $888 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED!!!!! A KNOB!!!!!! I THINK MITSUBISHI SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP & ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

MY DAUGHTER'S 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES NO LONGER PROVIDES HEAT. AS IN MANY OTHER CASES, THE KNOB HAS BROKEN OFF!! WHY IS THIS NOT THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL? SHE HAS NO HEAT, IT'S WINTER, AND SHE HAS NO MEANS TO DEFROST HER WINDSHIELD. FOR A WHILE SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE MECHANISM USING NEEDLE-NOSED PLIERS. NOW, EVEN THAT DOESN'T WORK AND SHE HAS NO HEAT, NO MEANS TO DEFROST HER WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS RELIABLY, AND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. I CAN'T TURN THE HEAT ON. WHEN I TURN THE KNOB FROM COLD TO HOT THERE IS A LOT OF TENSION AND I'VE ALREADY BROKEN ONE KNOB TRYING TO FORCE IT TO TURN THE HEATER ON WHEN IT'S COLD OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE HEAT ON IS TO LOOK FOR A LEVER TO THE RIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL AND MANUALLY TURN THE HEAT ON. THIS IS NOT SAFE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WON'T DEFROST IF THE HEATER ISN'T ON. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE FOR US BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAS MS AND IS SENSITIVE TO HEAT ESPECIALLY, BUT ALSO CAN BE SENSITIVE TO COLD. THE HEATER KNOB ON MY VEHICLE BROKE. IT HAD BEEN STICKING FOR A WHILE. I HAD TO TURN THE KNOB PRETTY HARD TO PUSH FROM COLD TO HOT OR HOT TO COLD. IN RESEARCHING A WAY TO FIX IT I WAS APPALLED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED BY MITSUBISHI. AT THIS POINT WE JUST NEED TO REPLACE ONE SMALL SHAFT FOR THE KNOB TO SLIP ONTO, BUT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS WE HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE UNIT - $215 PLUS SHIPPING AND LABOR. WITH MY HUSBAND HAVING MS, WE ARE ALWAYS PAYING MEDICAL BILLS. WE WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD AND THE HEATER ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING FROM THE ONLY LANCER ON THE LOT AND ACCORDING TO ONE PERSON EVERY LANCER HE SAW COME THROUGH HAD THE LEFT KNOB BROKEN OFF THE HEATER TEMP CONTROLLER. NOW IT IS COLD IN THE MORNINGS AND WARM IN THE AFTERNOONS AND WE CANNOT ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE AT ALL. WE HAD BEEN USING PLIERS BUT NOW CANNOT MOVE IT AT ALL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE IT IS A HEALTH ISSUE FOR THOSE WITH MS AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS. *TR

CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB BROKE OFF ON MITSUBISHI ,FOUND TO HAPPEN ON LOTS OF THESE CARS, CANT DEFROST WINDOW. CANT SEE. SAFETY HAZARD? *TR

AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING KNOB WAS HARD TO TURN, UNTIL IT FINALLY BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. NOW I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY VEHICLE AND IT VISUALLY IMPAIRS MY DRIVING WHEN IT IS COLD AND FROSTS UP. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I CAN DO, EXCEPT TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT CONTROL KNOB WOULD TURN BUT WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE HEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR WOULD BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS BUT WOULD NOT GET WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS ALSO WORKING BUT HEAT WOULD NOT EXPEL FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR,THE KNOB FOR THE AC/ HEATER WAS HARD TO TURN. THEN ABOUT 2YRS AGO I CANT TURN IT WITHOUT THE CAR BEING PARKED. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN. MOST OF THE TIME I WOULDN'T USE MY HEAT. THEN ONE NIGHT MY WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGED UP. I TRIED DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. BUT I HAD TO STOP TO TURN THE HEAT ON FOR THE DEFROSTER.DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE WITH FOGGED UP WINDOWS IS SCARY. WHEN I TURNED THE KNOB IT BROKE OFF. I HAVE TRIED TO GET USED PARTS FOR IT BUT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS. AND THE DEALERS WHAT BETWEEN $700 AND $900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS. *TR

UNABLE TO TURN TEMP CONTROL SWITCH FROM HEAT TO A/C. UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS. MITSUBISHI QUOTED $1200 TO FIX. HAVE HAD TO PULL CAR OFF THE ROAD TO WIPE DOWN WINDOWS BECAUSE THE WINDOWS HAVE FOGGED UP WHILE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN DIAL WITHOUT CRAWLING UNDER THE DASH AND MANUALLY PULLING IT FROM A/C TO HEAT. *TR

THE HEAT/AC KNOB IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER WILL NOT TURN. IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR YEARS, BUT FOR FALL/WINTER 2009 I HAD TO HAVE A MECHANIC CRAWL UNDER THE DASH AND FORCE IT WITH PLIERS, THEN I LEFT IT THAT WAY ALL WINTER. NOT VERY SAFE OR CONVENIENT. I'M LOOKING AT A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FROM MITSUBISHI WHICH THEY SHOULD PAY FOR. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, YOU CAN'T DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS WITHOUT HEAT, NOR SHOULD YOU HAVE TO USE SUCH LOUSY EQUIPMENT. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL, I'VE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND THE HOT/COLD SWITCH BROKE OFF. IN TRYING TO RESEARCH THIS, I FOUND 100'S OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2003/MITSUBISHI/LANCER. IT IS ALSO NOT POSSIBLE TO GET THE WINDOWS TO DEFROST IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE DOING A RECALL FIX ON THESE... *TR

HEAT/AC KNOB HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT IS NOW STUCK ON A/C. I AM LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT ACQUIRES FREEZING TEMPERATURES, AND EVIDENTLY, WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE COME ACROSS THOUSANDS OF MITSUBISHI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE MOST OF THE U. S. EXPERIENCES FREEZING TEMPERATURES THIS SHOULD, WITHOUT A DOUBT, BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS AFFECTING SO MANY DRIVER'S VISIBILITIES. THE OTHER SAFETY ASPECT TO BE CONSIDERED PERTAINS YOUNG CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, AND THE ILL. CAR WINDOWS OPEN OR NOT, HOW IS IT SAFE TO HAVE THE YOUNG, ELDERLY, OR ILL IN A CAR OVER 100 DEGREES OR UNDER 32 DEGREES? THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND UNSAFE. PLEASE ADVISE A RECALL. *TR

HVAC DASH CONTROL UNIT-MITSUBISHIS LANCER 2003 THE KNOB THAT CONTROLS THE HOT AND COLD BROKE,IT IS STUCK IN THE COLD POSITION. NOW UNABLE TO REGULATE THE HEATING FUNCTIONS. IT ALSO HINDERS THE DE-FOGGING FEATURE FROM WORKING. I LIVE IN NYC AND THE WEATHER HAS NOW CHANGED. WITH THE CLIMATE CHANGE I HAVE NO HEAT NOR CAN I USE THE DE-FOGGING IF I AM DRIVING IN THE RAIN. PART IS NOT REPAIRABLE BY DEALER BECAUSE IT IS NOT A DEFECT IN THE CAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT EVERY OWNER OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE SINCE 99/00 HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. EACH OWNER HAS STATED THAT MITSUBISHI DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS A RECALL. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO LIVE WHERE THE CLIMATE CHANGES, AS WELL IF SOMEONE LIVES IN A WARM CLIMATE/COLD CLIMATE YEAR ROUND. I THINK MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO ADMIT TO THIS DEFECT AND FIX IT FOR ALL OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. BEING THAT THIS HAPPENS SO FREQUENT THERE IS NO WAY TO ACQUIRE THE PART SECOND HAND. ONLY AT THE DEALER. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND THE HOT/COLD SWITCH BROKE OFF. IN TRYING TO RESEARCH THIS, I LITERALLY FOUND 100'S OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE LIVE IN MN, AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GET THE WINDOWS TO DEFROST IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE DOING A RECALL FIX ON THESE...SINCE GETTING IT FIXED DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AT ALL, THE SWITCH BEHAVES THE SAME WAY AFTER ABOUT 90 DAYS OF USE. *TR

IN THE 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES THE CLIMATE CONTROL SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE HEAT/COLD IS FAULTY. THE SWITCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD TO TURN AND EVENTUALLY BROKE OFF. MAKING THE CAR OWNER UNABLE TO SWITCH FROM HOT TO COLD. THIS POSES A PROBLEM IN THE WINTER MONTHS ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR OWNERS WILL BE UNABLE TO DEFROST THEIR WINDSHIELD. MAKING IT A HAZARD. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE ISN'T A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS THE EXACT QUOTE I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE REPAIR. "TO REPAIR THIS PROPERLY WE NEED TO REMOVE THE DASH AND REPAIR THE HEATER BOX. IF THAT IS NOT DONE THAN YOU WILL DAMAGE THE NEW HEATER KNOB. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR ARE $520.00 AND THE LABOR TO DO THE REPAIR IS $756.00" I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER OZ RALLY EDITION , SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAR ENGINE REVS TO 3000-4000 RPM. DOES NOT HAVE ABS SO YOU CAN STOP THE CAR, TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND YOU WILL FIND THE CAR ACCELERATING TO 50 MPH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. CAN BE FIXED BY REPLACING PN# MR578268 FOR $465( IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE) , A PART THAT IS ABOUT $30 TO $70 DOLLARS FOR ANY OTHER CAR. EVENT HAPPENS AT 3-4 MONTH INTERVALS. HAD TO GOOGLE ON INTERNET TO SOLVE PROBLEM. DEALERS WON'T ADMIT PROBLEM BUT HAVE THE OVERPRICED PART IN STOCK!

THE TEMPERATURE KNOB WILL NOT TURN FROM COOL TO HEAT RESULTING IN THE FAILURE TO HEAT THE WINDSHIELD. IN TURN, ANY FROST, ICE, OR FOG WILL NOT BE REMOVED AND HINDERS VISION. *TR

TEMPERATURE KNOB WONT TURN. CAN NOT MOVE THE KNOB FROM AC TO HEAT. CAN NOT REMOVE FOG OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. EVENTUALLY, THE CONTROL KNOB BROKE AWAY FROM THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR BENEATH, AND NOW THE TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE CHANGED. A SHORT INTERNET SEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS TO BE SUBJECT OF A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED IN 2004. *TR

ALL THREE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. 1. NORMAL DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK, UNSURE OF ANYTHING LEADING UP TO FAILURE. WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WAS BEHIND ME WHILE DRIVING AND THEN PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AT A LIGHT. WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO CRASH. 2. LIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY OUT, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM BACK ON 3. HAVE CHECKED THE FUSE AS LABELED IN THE MANUFACTURERS HANDBOOK, CHECKED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, CHECKED THE LIGHT BULBS, ALL ARE IN OK FASHION AND WORK WHEN TESTED SEPARATELY. *TR

2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. LOUD GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. CARS UNDER 8 THOUSAND MILES HAVING TO REPLACE CLUTCHES AND TRANSMISSIONS. GEARS POPPING INTO NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP ACCEPTED WARRANTY AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE CAR. CAR WAS RETURNED A 2ND TIME TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN. *TR

HEATING/COOLING KNOB HAS BEEN HARD TO TURN SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. EVENTUALLY THE KNOB BROKE OFF. I WAS TOLD BY A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP THAT THEY'D HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT WHICH WOULD RUN ME ABOUT $300 FOR THE PART. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE IN FULL WINTER CLOTHES WHEN IT'S COLD BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THE THING OFF THE COOL SETTING. *TR

THE HEATER KNOB ON MY MITSUBISHI LANCER WAS HARD TO TURN FROM HOT TO COLD FROM THE VERY FIRST TIME I GOT THE CAR WITH 65000 MILES. ONE DAY THE KNOB BROKE. I WENT TO THE OFFICIAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEATING DASHBOARD PIECE AND I PAID OVER 400.00. THE KNOB EVEN AFTER THIS WAS NOT EASY TO TURN AND AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF BROKE AGAIN. NOW I FIND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THIS OR OFFERED ANY ALTERNATE SOLUTION WHEN I MENTIONED THE KNOB WAS STILL HARD. I CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD SINCE I CANNOT CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE. MY WINDOWS GET ALL STEAMY AND I CAN'T SEE WHILE DRIVING. IF I TRY TO REACH UNDER THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING TO MOVE THE PLASTIC PART THAT CONNECTS TO THE HEATER IS HAZARDOUS SINCE I HAVE TO BEND AND TRY TO REACH UNDER MY DASHBOARD. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!! *KB

MITSUBISHI LANCER 2003 BASE MODEL AIR CONDITIONER (HEAT COOL) KNOB BROKE OFF DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF TURNING/WIRES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE AND YET NO RECALL. *TR

I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME. I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 2 MINUTES WHEN MY FRONT SPEAKERS SHUT OFF. I THEN START TO NOTICE A BURNING SMELL. I SEE THE INTERIOR START TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ENGINE FIRE AT FIRST UNTIL I NOTICED A FIRE IN MY PASSENGER DOOR SPEAKER. I PULLED OVER BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. I MADE A CALL TO 911 TO SEND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THANKFULLY THE FIRE HOUSE WAS VERY CLOSE AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT DAMAGED MORE THAN JUST THE DOOR. I HAVE THE DOOR AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED AUG 18TH 2008. I HAVE NOT TAKEN APART, REPLACED, OR UPGRADED ANY DASH, RADIO OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. ADDITIONALLY I AM ALSO MISSING THE HEAT AND A/C KNOB AS IT BROKE OFF LAST WINTER. *TR

THE 5TH GEAR SYNCRO HAS FAILED ON THE CAR AT 60,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO MITSUBISHI AND THEY HAVE DEVELOPED NEW, STRONGER PARTS AS PART OF A TSB. HOWEVER, MITSUBISHI IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE DEFECT CITING "ABUSE". *TR

AT NIGHT DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, UNABLE TO TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONER AND SWITCH ON WINDSHIELD DEFROST BECAUSE HEATER, TEMPERATURE DIAL BROKE OFF. *TR

KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE CLUTCH AREA. EVERY TIME I RELEASE THE CLUTCH ON MY CAR I HEAR THIS KNOCKING NOISE, WHEN I DEPRESS THE CLUTCH THE NOISE GOES AWAY. *TR

MITSUBISHI 2003 LANCER ES PROBLEM: AC KNOB WON'T SWITCH ALL THE WAY OVER TO HEAT?IT KINKS. IF YOU TURN IT TOO HARD, IT BREAKS AND YOU REQUIRE TO CHANGE THE WHOLE CONSOLE WHICH COSTS AROUND $388.00 PLUS THE LABOR REQUIRED TO INSTALL IT, THEN THE TOTAL WILL BE AROUND $675.00! THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2008 BUT IT WORSENED WITH TIME TO THE POINT OF BREAKING RECENTLY. THE TWO OUTSIDE KNOBS ON THE HVAC UNIT (THE KNOBS THAT CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE AND WHERE THE AIR FLOWS OUT FROM) ARE CONNECTED TO THE HEATER CORE VIA METAL WIRES. WHEN YOU TURN THE TEMPERATURE KNOB TO THE RIGHT THE WIRE PUSHES OUT AND WHEN YOU TURN IT BACK TO THE LEFT THE WIRE PULLS IN. THIS WIRE IS CONNECTED TO A PIECE OF PLASTIC ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE HEATER CORE. THIS PIECE OF PLASTIC IS CONNECTED TO A GEAR AND IS SUPPOSED TO WORK HARMONIOUSLY WITH THE PIECE OF PLASTIC THE AIRFLOW KNOB (RIGHT OUTSIDE KNOB ON HVAC UNIT) IS CONNECTED TO. THAT IS WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. THESE TWO PIECES OF PLASTIC, BLEND LINK AND LEVER, WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO SLIDE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE TURNING OF THE KNOBS, DON'T WORK WELL AND THE WIRE ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO FORCE THE PIECE INTO THE HEAT POSITION. THE RESULT IS THE WIRE OFTEN KINKS. ON THE DRIVER SIDE, UNDER THE DASH, UP AND TO THE RIGHT THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF WHITE PLASTIC, ONE CLOSER TO THE FIREWALL THEN THE OTHER. THERE IS A METAL WIRE CLIPPED TO EACH. THIS IS THE PART YOU HAVE TO TURN TO CHANGE IT TO HEAT. THE 'BOTTOM' IS THE TEMPERATURE KNOB. YOU CAN EITHER GRAB THE WIRE OR THE PIECE OF PLASTIC IT CONNECTS TO AND TURN IT TOWARD THE FIREWALL MOST PEOPLE SIMPLY TURN THE DEVICE BY HAND NOW BUT THAT?S NOT SAFE TO DO WHILE DRIVING! I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN BY MITSUBISHI THAT RESULTS IN A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THE WIND SHIELD FOGS UP AND YOU CAN?T TURN THE KNOB BECAUSE IT KINKS. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT?S HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THE KNOBS ON THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL PANEL WERE BREAKING OFF. THE DEALER ADVISED THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE YET THE IMPROVED KNOBS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT FELT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE HEAT LEVELS IN THE VEHICLE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,931.

THE AIR/HEATING UNIT BUTTON ON THE DASH BROKE OFF COMPLETELY. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE KNOB TO HEAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN IT TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY SAID THAT THEY'VE HAD MANY CAR OWNERS BUYING THE UNIT BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 LANCER. THE UNIT ITSELF IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUY AT A COST OF $379.00. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LABOR. THE LABOR WAS QUOTED AT $549.00, BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD/ TRIM OUT AND OFF TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I JUST REPLACED THE UNIT AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR WILL JERK AND HESTITATE AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE GEARS WILL SHIFT AND I WILL LOSE MOMENTUM WHILE DRIVING. YOU CAN HEAR A REVVING SOUND LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO GO OUT. THESE ARE JUST A FEW PROBLEMS - I HAVEN'T MENTION THAT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR CONDITION UNIT BECAUSE OF THE CONDENSATION LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD CAUSING IT TO FILL WITH WATER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACE THE UNIT WITH A NEW ONE. *TR

I HAD JUST ARRIVED FROM WORK AND PULLED-IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WAS IDLING MY CAR BEFORE SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. I THEN SWITCHED OFF MY HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON, THEN OFF; AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE HEADLIGHTS FINALLY SWITCHED OFF, BUT THEN, THE HEADLIGHTS, PARKLIGHTS, MARKERS AND EVEN THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF AND PULLED OUT THE KEY, BUT JUST BEFORE THIS INCIDENT I USED MY WIPERS TO CLEAR MY WINDSHIELD OF RAIN/MIST WITH A ONE WIPE/MANUAL SWEEP AND THE WIPERS JUST SEEMED THAT IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP WIPING UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF AND THE KEY PULLED OUT. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT AND IT WAS RAINING OR HAD JUST RAINED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN REPLACED BOTH LIGHT AND WIPER SWITCHES AFTER DETERMINING THAT THERE WAS A SHORT. THIS SEEMED TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. THEN ON APRIL 28, 2008 I HAD JUST ARRIVED AT WORK AND WAS IDLING MY CAR BEFORE SWITCHING THE IGNITION OFF, AS I SWITCHED OFF THE LIGHTS THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF CONTINUOUSLY. IF THE LIGHTS WERE LEFT IN THE ON OR PARK POSITION, THE HORN WOULD STOP, BUT WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF, IT DIDN'T STOP GOING OFF EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS OFF AND THE KEY PULLED OUT. IT ONLY STOPPED AFTER THE FUSE WAS PULLED OUT. AGAIN, THE WEATHER WAS RAINING OR HAD JUST RAINED. I THEN DROPPED OFF MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THAT WATER INTRUSION THROUGH THE DRIVER'S FRONT KICK PANEL TO JUNCTION BLOCK, INSTRUMENT HARNESS, FLOOR HARNESS AND CHASSIS HARNESS. CORROSION ON PINS AND CONNECTORS CAUSING FAILURES AND SHORTS TO ALL SYSTEMS. THEY HAD AN OUTSIDE VENDOR SEAL AROUND WIRING HARNESS BEHIND INNER FENDER WELL. AT THIS POINT NONE OF THE WIRINGS NOR HARNESS WERE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD ALL BE CUSTOMER PAY AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS I HAVE EXCEEDED THE 3/36 WARRANTY PERIOD. WIPERS HORN AND REMOTE UN/LOCK DON'T WORK. *TR

1. USE OF VEHICLES HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM. 2. THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB BROKEN AND BECAME UNUSABLE. DEFROST/DEFOG NO LONGER WORKS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE. 3. NO FIX AT THIS TIME. *TR

KNOB ON AC/HEATER CONTROL BROKE, NOW STUCK ON AC. CAN NOT USE CAR IN COLD WEATHER AS WINDSHIELD FOGS UP MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A 2003 MIISUBISHI LANCER.*CN

2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER OZ RALLEY . THE HEATER HOT AND COLD SELECTOR WILL NOT SWITCH FROM HOT TO COLD. YOU HAVE TO REACH UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH AND MOVE IT FROM HOT TO COLD. IF NOT THE SELECTOR SWITCH WILL BREAK. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED IT ONCE. NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT. BY THE WAY I AM A MECHANIC BY TRADE WITH 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. ALSO THE PLUG COMING OFF THE DASH HARNESS HAS SEEMED TO HAVE GOTTEN HOT AND AS A RESULT THE PLASTIC IS DETERIORATING ALLOWING A SHORT BETWEEN THE WIRES. WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE FUSE FOR THE HEATER CONTROL LIGHTS AS WELL AS THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR MARKER LIGHTS TO BURN OUT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES BRAND-NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP IN THE SUMMER OF THAT YEAR. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, I REALIZED THE TEMPERATURE-CONTROL KNOB WAS STIFF AND WOULD HAVE TO BE FORCED TO SWITCH FROM HEAT TO COOL AND VICE VERSA. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE A SERVICE TECHNICIAN OILED IT. THAT HELPED FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE IT STARTED STICKING AGAIN. BASICALLY, IT WOULD FEEL AS IT THE KNOB WAS STUCK BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FORCED BEYOND THAT POINT. ONCE FORCED, IT WOULD EITHER NOT STICK IN THE MOST EXTREME TEMPERATURE SETTING (I.E. MAX AC OR HIGHEST HEAT SETTING) OR IT WOULD NOT MOVE MUCH AT ALL. IT WOULD OFTEN FEEL AS IF IT WERE ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2005, WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG 2003 LANCER OWNERS. THE SERVICE TECH AT THAT TIME TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $800 TO FIX BUT THAT SO LONG AS THE HEATING AND AC WORKED MOST OF THE TIME, IT WOULD BE SMARTER TO HOLD OFF UNTIL MITSUBISHI ISSUED A RECALL. HE INDICATED THAT A RECALL WAS IMMINENT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HE WAS AWARE OF. THE KNOB ON MY CAR OFFICIALLY BROKE LAST WEEK. THERE IS STILL NO RECALL ON THE PART, BUT A SERVICE TECHNICIAN I SPOKE TO THIS MORNING SAID THAT MITSUBISHI RECENTLY RELEASED A FIX-IT KIT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO HIM, THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT IT WOULD COST $1,000 TO REPAIR, BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. TOTAL ESTIMATED REPAIR TIME IS ABOUT 8 HOURS. IT'S MY BELIEF THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL ON THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB AND COMPANY-PAID REPAIR. *TR

MY STEERING COLUMN WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE, BUT A MECHANIC ASSURED ME THERE NO PROBLEM. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN FELL INTO MY LAP AS I ATTEMPTED TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE COLUMN BACK INTO PLACE AND GET THE CAR ACROSS THE STREET TO A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TOO MANY MILES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND TOLD THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP MY BELIEF. I ALSO ADVISED HIM THAT I HAD HAD CARS THAT WERE TOTALED OUT IN ACCIDENTS AND THE STEERING MECHANISM NEVER FELL OUT. IN ADDITION, I HAD ONE CAR THAT I PUT CLOSE TO 200,000 MILES ON IT, BUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN FALLING OUT. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE REGARDING WEAR AND TEAR AND THE OUT OR WARRANTY SITUATION. *TR