Model year record

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 96 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V220000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
17,120
Reported to NHTSA
2018-04-05
Owners notified
2018-04-26

Defect description

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles that previously received a like-for-like passenger side frontal air bag inflator under recall 15V321 as interim remedy. Also recalled are 2004-2006 Lancer vehicles located in Guam or Saipan that previously received or never received a new inflator under 15V321 or 17V569. These passenger side frontal air bag inflators may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to explode in the event of an air bag deployment.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-005.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V569000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
66,001
Reported to NHTSA
2017-09-14
Owners notified
2017-10-12

Defect description

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-17-001. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-321.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V458000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
Manufacturer
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
194,674
Reported to NHTSA
2016-06-23
Owners notified
2016-09-14

Defect description

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

Safety risk

A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V428000

Equipment: other: labels

Component
Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN
Vehicles affected
100,432
Reported to NHTSA
2004-09-01

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Safety risk

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags1945,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1068,500 mi
Visibility760,000 mi
Electrical system634,000 mi
Unknown or other565,000 mi
Vehicle speed control534,000 mi
Suspension4148,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element473,249 mi
Equipment360,000 mi
Power train355,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling234,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine230,708 mi
Exterior lighting250,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly234,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission275,000 mi
Structure23,700 mi
Visibility/wiper270,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator134,000 mi
Engine1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system155,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan147,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1
Seat belts: front133,226 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Service brakes, hydraulic1
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages1
Steering180,000 mi
Structure: body1113,650 mi
Suspension: front117,500 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1
Tires: sidewall1
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal141 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control176 mi

The 2003 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

EA15001Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Air bags: frontal

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.