Mitsubishi · NHTSA safety record

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Owners of the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer have filed 51 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2010 and August 2023. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 13 of them (25%). The typical failure was reported at 70,000 miles, the median across the 23 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

20V279000 · May 18, 2020

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
The risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 141,200 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

18V071000 · January 26, 2018

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.
The risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 56,641 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

18V069000 · January 26, 2018

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.
The risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-001.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 141,053 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

15V233000 · April 20, 2015

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.
The risk: Failure of the blower motor may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-003.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 76,958 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

15V232000 · April 20, 2015

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be unstable.
The risk: Unstable voltage could result in intermittent failure of the vehicle's head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. If the headlights and/or windshield wipers fail, the driver could have reduced visibility. If the tail lights fail, the vehicle could be less visible. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected ECU, free of charge. The recall began on June 15 ,2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-002.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 53,396 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

14V562000 · September 12, 2014

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.
The risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 165,923 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 51.

ENGINE 13 25%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8 16%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 10%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 10%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 8%

POWER TRAIN 4 8%

SERVICE BRAKES 4 8%

VISIBILITY 4 8%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 3 6%

STEERING 3 6%

AIR BAGS 2 4%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 14.

2010 to 2023

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Filed March 21, 2011

2 injured · crash · 18,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AS THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO ATTEMPT A TURN BUT DID NOT RESPOND AND THE DRIVER ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A GUARDRAIL ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, DAMAGING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM, RIGHT LEG AND FOREHEAD. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ARMS, LEGS AND NECK. EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL ARRIVED TO TREAT THE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS

NHTSA complaint 10392356, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed October 15, 2014

2 injured · crash · 22,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. THE INJURIES CONSISTED OF A HEAD, NECK, SHOULDER AND KNEE DAMAGE TO BOTH PERSONS. THE VEHICLE WAS CLASSIFIED AS DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 12/9/14*CN UPDATED 6/1/2015 *JS

NHTSA complaint 10644834. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE Filed October 30, 2014

fire · 70,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint 10651376. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES Filed May 3, 2020

crash · towed · 115,000 miles

MY ABS AND ASC LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WASNT A PROBLEM, JUST A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONE DAY, I WAS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP TRYING TO BRAKE SO I COULD TURN BUT MY BRAKES WOULDNT ENGAGE SO I SLAM ON MY BRAKE AND THEY LOCKED UP AND MY CAR SLID AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. TIRED TO STEER AWAY BUT IT WOULDNT TURN.

NHTSA complaint 11323112. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed August 3, 2023

While driving the car we began hearing a rattling noise. We took it to the dealer to get it checked. They informed us that the control member was beginning to rust out causing the control arms to become loose. This is the exact problem related to a recall in other states for this car.

NHTSA complaint 11536394. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed September 20, 2022

The car started flashing a warning sign and loosing power. When trying to accelerate it stops. Eventually it puts the car into a limp mode and will stall altogether. This happens any long distance trip. My car year and model is not the only Lancer being effected by this computer glitch. It’s very dangerous due to the fact that the cars loosing power while you’re driving. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the middle of the highway it will just stop working. All research I have done points to an error within the computer that tells the car when to cool down the transmission. I have seen many blogs, forums and actually know another Lancer owner who’s model is a 2012 and has the exact same issue.

NHTSA complaint 11485374, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed February 22, 2021

ALL MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X MODELS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AYC ACD PUMPS, THIS AFFECTS THE STABILITY AND THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY IN CASE OF A SLIPPERY OR BAD ROAD. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PUMPS BEGIN WITH IT'S LOCATION BECAUSE IT RECEIVES DIRT,WATER, SNOW AND OTHER ELEMENTS THAT HARM THE PUMP. THIS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FROM MITSUBISHI BECAUSE IT FAILED DUE TO A BAD DESIGN AND LOCATION OF IT AND IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR DRIVERS SPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, I WILL LIKE THIS CONCERN COULD BE TAKEN IN CONSIDERATION FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION OWNERS, THANKS

NHTSA complaint 11397295. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE Filed June 25, 2020

161,000 miles

WARNING MESSAGE "TOO HOT SLOW DOWN" APPEARS WHEN INCLINING UPHILL IN ABOVE 70 DEGREES (F) AT 45MPH OR MORE. TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO LOSE POWER, DECELERATION OCCURS, TEMPERATURE GAUGE READS NORMAL ON DASHBOARD MENU, VEHICLE TRANSMISSION RUNS ON HIGH RPM ABOVE 3000, TRANSMISSION SOUNDS ARE LOUDER THAN NORMAL, AND WHEN VEHICLE REACHES COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE WARNING MESSAGE DOES NOT GO AWAY. WHEN VEHICLE IS MANUALLY SHUT OFF, MESSAGE WILL STILL APPEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON TO ELECTRICAL ONLY, MESSAGE WILL STILL APPEAR. AFTER 5 MINUTES OR MORE IN POWER OFF, VEHICLE WILL RESTART LIKE NORMAL, MESSAGE IS CLEARED, AND GAUGES FOR TEMPERATURE AND OIL PRESSURE IS NORMAL RANGE. NO ERROR CODES

NHTSA complaint 11330819, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER Filed June 9, 2020

THE MITSUBISHI DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIX ONE OF THE RECALLS BECAUSE IT WAS AN "AFTER MARKET PART". *TR

NHTSA complaint 11328035. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mitsubishi Lancer

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2016	30	2	—
2015	23	1	—
2014	16	0	—
2012	19	1	—
2011	34	3	—

Other 2010 Mitsubishi models

Outlander 60 Lancer Evolution 28 Endeavor 11 Galant 9

Every Mitsubishi on this site — 45 vehicles, 119 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file , published August 20, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API , most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file , published 2026-08-19.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst