2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Complaint Log

I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A HEADLIGHT OR HEADLIGHTS REPLACED 7 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW 3.5 YEARS AGO. I'VE ALSO HAD TO HAVE A TAIL LIGHT, BRAKELIGHT, AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHT REPLACED. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD MELTED DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE BULB. THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE MANUFACTURER EVEN THOUGH MY BULB PROBLEMS BEGAN AFTER ONLY OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR. *TR

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HOOK THE VEHICLE UP TO A MACHINE (3/5/08). HE THEN TELLS ME THAT I NEED TO CONTACT A MITSUBISHI DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THE RECALL OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DUE TO IT BEING RECALLED IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT HE WOULD NOT TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF UNTIL I THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FIX. AS SO AS I GOT HOME I GOT ON THE WEBSITE TO RETRIEVE THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WITH PHONE NUMBER. I THEN CONTACTED THE TODEY DEALERSHIP WHICH IS LOCATED IN VENTURA COUNTY WHICH IS 2 HOURS AWAY. MY APPOINTMENT IS SCHEDULED ON SATURDAY 3/7/08. ON THAT FRIDAY I DROVE DOWN TO STAY WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND WE WENT OUT THAT EVENING (3/7/08) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME OFF MY ITSELF. I STILL TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. I ARRIVED 30MIN BEFORE MY SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE WRITER OF TODEY DEALERSHIP TOOK ALL MY INFORMATION NEEDED TO PUT INTO THE SYSTEM. HE THEN SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO THE RECALL WEBSITE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND HAVE THE TECHNICIAN HOOK THE VEHICLE UP TO THE MACHINE. 1 HOUR LATER HE THEN CAME TO ME THAT THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I HAVE WENT OVER MY MILEAGE WHERE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I HAD ADVISED HIM THAT I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN REGARDS TO BEING A RECALL TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ON MONDAY HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THE WARRANTY OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER TO FIX THE RECALL. HE ALSO ADVISED ME THAT IF I WANTED TO REPAIR THE RECALL NOW, THAT I WOULD COME UP WITH $1,000.00 TO ORDER THE PART WHICH I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD WAIT FOR HIS PHONE CALL IN REGARDS TO ANSWERS IF THE WARRANTY OFFICE WOULD COVER THE PART. I BASICALLY DROVE 2 HOURS AWAY AND DIDN'T GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISH FOR MY VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED DUE TO A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

THERE IS A FLAW IN THE HEATER ON LANCER AND OUTLANDER MODELS. MITSUBISHI HAS ADMITTED IT BY SERVICE BULLETIN. AS I UNDERSTAND A FUNCTIONAL HEATER AND DEFROSTER IS REQUIRED BY NHTSA. I LIKE EVERY OTHER OWNER OF SUCH CARS ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY HEAT AND THE KNOB SNAPPED OFF. NOW THERE IS NO HEAT OR WINDSHIELD DEFROST. OVER 1000.00 IS NEEDED FOR REPAIR AND IT'S HAPPENING TO ALL OF THESE CARS. *TR

MY HOT/COOL KNOB IS BROKEN. MY HEATER FAN ONLY WORKS ON 4, AC ONLY RUNS ON 1,2 OR3. I ALSO HAD WATER ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR DUE TO CONDENSATION FROM THE AC NOT PROPERLY DRAINING. THE WATER ALSO GOT INTO MY BLOWER MOTOR, WHICH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED. WILL BE REPLACING HEATER RESISTOR THIS WEEK, SO I CAN USE MY AC AGAIN. HOT/COOL KNOB WILL COST AT LEAST $1000 TO FIX, SO IT'S STAYING BROKEN. *TR

A/C, DEFROST CONTROL HAS BEEN HARD TO CHANGE SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. PLASTIC CONTROL FOR CONNECTION OF KNOB BROKE. CALLED CLOSEST DEALER (OVER 60 MILES AWAY) AND THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE. COST FOR REPAIRS QUOTED AT OVER $600 PARTS PLUS LABOR. WITHOUT REPAIR CAR CAN NOT SAFELY BE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN THIS AREA. *JB

HEATER KNOB STICKS, PREVENTING AC ADJUSTMENT TO HEAT FROM COOL. THIS PREVENTS DEFOGGER SYSTEM FROM EFFECTIVELY WORKING HAMPERING VISIBILITY, WHEN IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS REMOVED AND AN HOUR LATER WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHICH FRACTURED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED, THE DEALER WAS ALERTED AND INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DUE TO FLOODING.

HTTP://FORUMS.EVOLUTIONM.NET/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=231553&PAGE=1&PP=15 SOME GUYS REPORTED SOME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE LANCER RALLIART. SO FAR THEY HAVE PICS AND INFO OF 3 CASES. THEY REPORTED SOME METAL SOUND BEFORE THE FAILURE. I HAVE A 2004 LANCER SPORTBACK THAT HAVE A STRANGE METAL SOUND IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. A MITSUBISHI SERVICE SHOP CHECKED THE WAGON BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG SOME WEEKS AGO. THE METAL SOUND IS WORST NOW AND I AM AFRAID THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN TO ME. *NM

I PURCHASED A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART SEDAN AND PAID IT OFF IN FULL UPON RECIEPT OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES, HOWEVER MY PRIMARY CONCERN TODAY IS A SENSOR THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED FOR THE 5TH TIME TODAY. THE SENSOR IS CALLED THE APP SENSOR. WHEN IT GOES OUT, IT CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND THE ENGINE WON'T REV PAST 2,500 RPM'S. THIS HAS BECOME AN ISSUE BECAUSE TWO DAYS AGO THE SENSOR WENT OUT ON ME AGAIN, AFTER BEING REPLACED JUST WEEKS AGO. THIS TIME WHEN THE SENSOR WENT OUT, IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON I25. I HAVE ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHY THIS PART KEEPS FAILING ON ME AND THEY REPLIED "WE DON'T KNOW, YOUR THE ONLY PERSON WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART FOR AND DONT KNOW WHAT COULD CAUSE THE PART TO GO OUT." THIS CONCERNS ME A GREAT DEAL BECAUSE IF THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR, HOW CAN I TRUST MY SAFETY WHENEVER I AM DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN? I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT ARAPAHOE MITSUBISHI AND SERVICE REP BRIAN GREEN. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF ALL REPAIRS AND CAN SEND THEM TO YOU IF YOU NEED THEM. *JB

WHENEVER DRIVING, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATING OVER 2500 RPM'S. WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY, IT CAUSES MY CAR TO DRASTICALLY SLOW DOWN, AND I AM FORCED TO QUICKLY MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE APP SENSOR ON THE VEHICLE TWICE ALREADY WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS, AND IS CURRENTLY REPLACING IT A THIRD TIME. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM

3 OUT OF 4 NEW NANKANG NS-1 TIRES FAILED WITHIN 15,000 MILES. TWO OF THE INCIDENTS WERE BLOWOUTS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *JB

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT DOWN THE STREET. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL FREEWAY AT POSTED SPEED, I WAS APPROACHING A OFF-RAMP AND APPLIED A GENTLY PUSH ON THE BRAKE TO TRANSITION TO THE OFF-RAMP. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR INCREASED ITS PRESSURE AND STARTED TO INCREASE THE SPEED OF TRAVEL. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO TAP ON THE BRAKE MORE VIGUROUSLY WITH NO SUCCESS. NEXT ATTEMPT WAS TO TAP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO CLEAR IT FROM BEING STUCK, NEXT I MOVED THE FLOOR MAT THINKING IT MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT UP UNDER THE PEDAL AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO MOVE THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO DRIVE WHILE STILL APPLYING THE BRAKE AND THEN I TAPPED THE THROTTLE PEDAL A FEW MORE TIMES AT WHICH POINT FINALLY CLEARED THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS NORMAL. SERVICE IS BEING SCHEDULED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

ENGINE MAKES TICKING SOUND WHEN FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE OIL IS NOT GETTING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE, EVEN WHEN THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE. *NM

I JUST BOUGHT A MITSUBISHI LANCER, SEAT BELT IS WAY TOO SHORT, IT LITERALLY CHOKES ME, IS HARD TO BUCKLE AND UNBUCKLE WITH MY HANDS/ MITSUBISHI DEALER SAYS SEAT BELT HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE. THEY WILL NOT ADD AN EXTENSION ON IT. I HAVE 2 CHOICES -DON'T WEAR A SEAT BELT AND GET TICKETS OR DIE IN A WRECK, OR WEAR IT, HAVE TO KEEP SEAT PUSHED SO FAR BACK TO MAKE SEAT BELT BUCKLE- BUT THEN CAN HARDLY REACH PEDALS, AND CANT BREATHE OR BE COMFORTABLE WEARING IT BECAUSE IT CUTS OFF MY CHEST TERRIBLY. I AM PERMANENTLY DISABLED WITH ANY PROBLEMS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO WEAR MY SEAT BEALT SCARES ME AS A SEAT BELT SAVE MY LIFE IN JAN 2005. *JB

1. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR OR LESS (DEPENDING ON ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS) A SPARK/STATIC DISCHARGE OCCURS BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL METAL SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRST OCCUPANT EXITING VEHICLE. *AK 2. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE FUMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS REFUELING OR IN PRESENCE OF OTHER FLAMMABLE GASES/MATERIALS. ALSO POTENTIAL COULD CAUSE SPARK BETWEEN THE GAS TANK DOOR AND GAS STATION FUEL NOZZLE. THIS IS AS MUCH OF A DANGER AS AN ANNOYANCE DUE TO THE STATIC DISCHARGE/SPARK IS VERY STRONG. I DO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS IN OTHER VEHICLES. 3. DEALER FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *NM

I WAS APPROACHING A STREET INTERSECTION, APPLYING NORMAL BRAKING FOR A ROUTINE STOP. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS AND I HAD TO GREATLY INCREASE BRAKE PRESSURE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S APP SENSOR WENT OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY AND NOT REV PAST 2500 RPMS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APP SENSOR WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD REPAIR INVOICES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASH REMAINED ON AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THE SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER. THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AT TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH DISC. *NM

WE OWN A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER 4 DR. WHILE BRAKING BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL IS EVIDENTLY TO CLOSE YOU HIT THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AND HAVE A RUN AWAY UNTIL YOU CAN GET YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES. YESTERDAY AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHE CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND APPLIED THE BRAKE AND EVIDENTLY THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME AND HIT A STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AT THE LIGHT. LUCKILY NO INJURIES, BUT 3500 DAMAGES TO THE CAR. I ASKED WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A HIGH HIT AND DID NOT DEPLOY OTHER WISE IT WOULD HAVE TOTALED OUR VEHICLE OUT. IS THIS OUR PROBLEM OR JUST THE GAS PEDAL JUST TO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST. COULD YOU PLEASE CHECK INTO IT. *JB

THIS IS WITH REFERENCE TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL, THE KNOB TO TURN SYSTEM TEMPERATURE FROM COLD TO HEAT, WITH TIME THE KNOB GOT STIFF AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN FROM COLD TO HEAT, FOR YEARS I HAVE HAD TO PLAY WITH IT EVERY TIME I NEEDED TO USE IT TO SWITCH TO THE TEMPERATURE I DESIRED ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN AND WHEN GOING FROM SUMMER TO WINTER. FINALLY THE KNOB BROKE OFF AND NOW I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO TURN IT MAKING IT "IMPOSSIBLE" TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THEY GET FOGGY FROM THE HUMIDITY OR EARLY IN THE MORNING DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS WHICH RESULTS IN UNSAFE DRIVING AS IT IMPAIRS MY VISION TO THE POINT THAT I NEED TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS WHILE I AM DRIVING WHICH IS QUITE DANGEROUS. ONLY THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST WORKS BECAUSE IT IS CONTROLLED BY A DIFFERENT KNOB. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO A GREAT AMOUNT OF OTHER MITSUBISHI LANCER OWNERS, WITH MODELS BETWEEN 2002-2005 AND FOR THE EXACT KNOB, THE ONE FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL. THERE ARE 2 OTHER KNOBS TO CONTROL THE FAN AND DIRECTION OF AIR THAT WORK PERFECTLY AND NO REPORTS ON BEING STUCK OR BROKEN ON THOSE TWO. IT SEEMS THAT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IS THE ONLY ONE GETTING STIFF AND BREAKING OFF WITH TIME, SO IT MORE THAN LIKELY IS A FACTORY DEFECT WITH THE KNOB OR THE WHOLE PART. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOP WHEN RAINING AND SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS BUT I AM NOT SURE IF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME GOOD LUCK. IS MITSUBISHI ALREADY TAKING ANY ACTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? WHAT CAN WE, AS CUSTOMERS, DO TO GET IT FIXED? *TR

SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED TO RELEASE WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF VEHICLE PURCHASE. THIS COULD CAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *NM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER. *NM

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE CLUTCH POPPED, AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT.*AK

VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS WANT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO CHOOSE YOUR GEAR SELECTION. *NM

1. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR OR LESS (DEPENDING ON ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS) A SPARK/STATIC DISCHARGE OCCURS BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL METAL SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRST OCCUPANT EXITING VEHICLE. *AK 2. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE FUMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS REFUELING OR IN PRESENCE OF OTHER FLAMABLE GASES/MATERIALS. ALSO POTENTIAL COULD CAUSE SPARK BETWEEN THE GAS TANK DOOR AND GAS STATION FUEL NOZZLE. THIS IS AS MUCH OF A DANGER AS AN ANNOYANCE DUE TO THE STATIC DISCHARGE/SPARK IS VERY STRONG. I DO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS IN OTHER VEHICLES. 3. HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IF THIS IS CORRECTABLE. EITHER WAY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IF THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD, SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE DANGER.

DASHBOARD UPPER FIREWALL SUPPORT MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES SURGE AHEAD AND SPEED UP, ALTHOUGH DRIVING CONDITIONS DO NOT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SPEED OR POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON A DAILY BASIS SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY CAR. THIS SUDDEN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *NM

DT: EVER TIME WHEN CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE IT REVVED JUST AS IF CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR, IF THE ENGINE WAS NOT REVVING IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE DIED. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE AT TIMES, WHEN CONSUMER STARTED ENGINE IT MADE A TICKING NOISE. VEHICLE HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS , TOO MANY PROBLEMS TO COUNT. *AK

2004 MITSUBISHI LANCE CUSTOMER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DASH DESIGN. ***CC THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HIT HER. THERE WAS A VERY LONG, LARGE PIECE OF THE PLASTIC DECORATIVE DASHBOARD THAT THE CONSUMER BELIEVED ACTED LIKE A WHIP WHICH CAME FROM THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE CAR AND STRUCK THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER IN THE HEAD. *JB