2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER Complaints

The front subframe on the drivers side of the vehicle broke while maneuvering a right turn at a safe speed. This incident caused additional damage to the vehicle, with noticeable damage to the quarter panel. Additional damage is expected and may include the tie rod, wheel bearing, struts, sway bar link, etc. The driver and passenger were put at risk due to the severity of the break and the inability to move the vehicle. The speed of the vehicle may have prevented further risk to the driver and passenger at the time of the incident. The issue with the subframe was confirmed by an independent service center due to the lack of a Mitsubishi dealer is proximity. However, a Mitsubishi dealer was contacted but no response was received. It is believed that this issue is associated with the discovered Unrepaired Recalls associated with this VIN. A police officer arrived at the incident and a tow truck was ordered by the officer due to the danger of remaining in the location of the incident. The issue with the subframe first appeared on Sunday, May 31st 2026 with a noise produced by the vehicle while driving on unsmooth roads and through turns. The vehicle was inspected by an independent service center on Thursday, June 4th 2026 and significant erosion was discovered on the front subframe. A Mitsubishi dealer was contacted on Friday, June 5th 2026 and a voicemail was left. No contact was received. The incident occurred on Saturday, June 6th 2026. The vehicle and associated parts are available for inspection upon request.

My vehicle was clean title but then it was considered salvage title, it was involved in a car accident on 9/07/2023 . I never knew about the recall because I am not the first owner. how i found out about the recall was because I have to do brake and lamp inspection and it failed on 10/09/2024 so I took the vehicle to Hayward Mitsubishi on 10/15/2024 to get the recall fix and since then they have not contacted me in any way to give me an update I have called them several times and they told me that they have not received the label so I then decided to try a different dealership that's call Concord Kia Mitsubishi Service and Parts they tried to help me out but also mentioned to me that the recall has no part number so there is no way to order it. I have been waiting for this recall to get resolve for two years.

Need to correct manufacture recalls. Car has 262000 miles. Actual owner in my family. Want to correct issues before accident happens. I have very poor vision when driving because of car head lights being foggy.

The faulty control arm issue was repaired in 2017. When I went in for a front end alignment on 9/14/2021 they noticed that the control arms were rusting through. I live in Wisconsin and noticed that there is a recall on 2007 lancers for a similar problem where the control arms were not replaced with zinc coated control arms for protection from anti icing agents used on the roads. Does this recall extend to the 2003 lancers.09/14/

UPON INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE IN THE REAR, AREAS OF SEVERE CORROSION HAS DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE REAR ON THE ALUMINUM SUBFRAME BAR THAT HOLDS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN PLACE SUCH AS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL & LATERAL CONTROL BARS THAT CAN SURELY COMPROMISE THE CARS ABILITY TO DRIVE IF UNNOTICED. ADDITIONALLY THE FUEL LINES ALONG THE GAS TANK, AS WELL SURROUNDING SURFACES ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, HAVE DEVELOPED NOTICEABLE CORROSION AS WELL THAT IS ALSO PROVING TO BE A LARGE AREA OF CONCERN. I AM CERTAINLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THIS AND THE VEHICLES ROAD WORTHINESS BECAUSE OF THESE AREAS. THIS VEHICLE IS BY NO MEANS HEAVILY MODIFIED AT ALL, THE VEHICLE IS NEVER OPERATED BEYOND ITS LIMITATIONS/AGGRESSIVELY AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN GREAT FOR ME AS IS, AND IT RESEMBLES EXACTLY THE WAY IT DID WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY. SOURCING ORIGINAL AND DOT APPROVED REPLACEMENT PARTS HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AND IT LEAVES ME AT A STANDSTILL. PLEASE IF THERE ISN'T SOME KIND OF ROAD WORTHY DIRECTIVE IN REGARDS TO THIS I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT CAN CERTAINLY COMPROMISE SAFETY FOR DRIVER IN COMMAND AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADS. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN AND WHOMEVER READING THIS, I HOPE MY INFORMATION CAME OFF CLEAR AND IS CONSIDERED. I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME OBSERVE THIS AND MAKING A PROMINENT DECISION. I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS UPON REQUEST AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SEVERE REAR FRAME RAIL UNIBODY RUST. SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE REAR ALUMINUM SUBFRAME MOUNTS TO THE BODY. MY VEHICLE, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OTHER, HAVE SHARED SIMILAR RUST AND ROT FROM THE EXACT SAME LOCATIONS ON 2003-2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTIONS. ABSOLUTELY NO FRAME PROTECTION FOR THE STEEL BODY. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME FOR RUST THAT CAN ALLOW THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FALL OUT. THE SAME COULD HAPPEN TO THE REAR OF THESE VEHICLES WHERE THE ENTIRE REAR END/DRIVETRAIN AND SUSPENSION COULD FAIL AND FALL OUT, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. ANY PART OF THE US WHERE HIGH HUMIDITY/RAINFALL OR WHERE ROAD SALTS/SOLUTIONS ARE USED ACCELERATE THE CORROSION PROCESS. BEING A UNIBODY VEHICLE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DESIGN FLAW. IT HAPPENS OVER TIME AND DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE TO CONDITIONS. HAPPENS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE REAR FRAME LEGS WHERE THE SUBFRAME MOUNTS.

THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATER CONTROLS KNOBS ON DASHBOARD. DO NOT TURN. CAN'T. ADJUST TEMPERATURE ELECTRICAL CERCUIT IN THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM HAS LOW VOLTAGE THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE.LIGHT TO CPME ON AND TURN OFF AT RANDOM. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY WEEK IN LUMINS. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS , THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WITHOUT. ME PUSHING. ON THE FOOT PEDEL.. THE SUNROOF MOTER CAME UNATTENDED ON IT OWN.

2 YEARS AGO I BROUGHT A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR MY CAR FROM DE DEALERSHIP. THAT COST ME 496.76$ FEW MONTHS AGO THE CHECK ENGINE TURN IN AND WHEN I CHECK I HAVE THE CODE P0421. THAT IS THE CODE FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I WHEN TO MITSUBISHI 2 DAYS AGO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE I'M THE FIRST CLIENT THAT COMES BACK FOR THE SAME PART. ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES CHECK MY CAR AND HE SAID THAT MY CAR IS BURNING OIL. HE TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO CHANGE THE VALVE LIFTER. DO I REALLY NEED TO DO THAT THEN BUY A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER?

OK EVER SINCE THE GASKET WENT BAD AND REPLACED THE GASKET ON THE LANCER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN GIVING ME ISSUES NOT JUST GAS BUT ISSUES SOUNDS AND PINGS IN THE ENGINE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE I KNOW THERE IS SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS EXACT STYLE OF VEHICLE AWHILE BACK THANKS. AFTER 45 MPH OR SO JOLTS AND RUMBLES???

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB BROKE OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE ARM INSIDE CAN BE TURNED WITH A NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS, BUT ONLY TOWARDS THE COLD/AC SIDE. IT STOPS WHEN TURNED TOWARDS THE HEAT SIDE AND WILL NOT GO- FEELS AS THOUGH IT COULD BREAK IF IT WAS FORCED. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING AS IT IS ABOUT TO BE WINTER IN MINNESOTA AND WITH NO HEAT, THERE IS NO DEFROSTER FOR WINDSHIELD OR REAR WINDOW. I AM VERY WORRIED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2003 LANCER, I FOUND OUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND I AM LEAD TO BELIEVE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHI'S DESIGN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. IF I DO NOT HAVE A DEFROSTER I AM IN DANGER AND I AM VERY WORRIED. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE IN THIS STATE TO NOT HAVE HEAT. TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW -10F DEGREES EVERY YEAR AND OFTEN AS LOW AS -30F. I AM CALLING ON THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THE NHTSA FOR HELP. WINTER IS COMING AND I NEED MY DEFROSTER. PLEASE HELP ME.