Mitsubishi

Lancer

Compact Cars · model years 2002 to 2017

Includes Lancer, Lancer 4WD, Lancer AWD and 1 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 91 Lancer trims All Mitsubishi cars

The verdict

Best year: 2017. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 10; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 2010. complaints: 85, about 3.2x this model's typical 27; recalls: 6, about 6x this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Mitsubishi Lancer
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2002	4Gas	24	no data	$2,600	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2002
2003	4Gas	25	no data	$2,500	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2003
2004	5Gas	23	no data	$2,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2004
2005	5Gas	23	no data	$2,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2005
2006	5Gas	23	no data	$2,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2006
2007	2Gas	25.5	no data	$2,450	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2007
2008	2Gas	24	no data	$2,600	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2008
2009	8Gas	23	no data	$2,700	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2009
2010	8Gas	23	161	$2,700	6	85	0	106	POWER TRAIN 24%, ENGINE 12%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 9%
complaints: 85, about 3.2x this model's typical 27 recalls: 6, about 6x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	10Gas	25.5	161	$2,450	3	49	0	105	POWER TRAIN 21%, ENGINE 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 49, above this model's typical 34 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	8Gas	25.5	168	$2,450	1	19	0	84	POWER TRAIN 23%, ENGINE 19%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 19, below this model's typical 27 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 74 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	8Gas	25.5	168	$2,450	0	0	1	79	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 27 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	8Gas	25.5	168	$2,450	0	0	1	70	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 27 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	6Gas	25.5	158	$2,450	1	26	1	66	POWER TRAIN 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%
complaints: 26, above this model's typical 20 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 58 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	5Gas	26	168	$2,400	2	29	1	60	POWER TRAIN 53%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%
complaints: 29, about 1.7x this model's typical 17 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	3Gas	28	148	$2,200	0	0	1	66	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 10 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2002: 24 to 2017: 28

Owner complaints2010: 85 to 2017: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Mitsubishi Lancer to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.