VehicleVerdict

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer other problems

The 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer has 27 other complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

27

Other complaints

11%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Other complaints by year

Lancer other complaints by model year27 complaints2002: 11 complaints2003: 27 complaints2004: 8 complaints2006: 3 complaints2008: 4 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 5 complaints2011: 3 complaints2012: 1 complaints2013: 2 complaints2015: 6 complaints2016: 3 complaints
Lancer other complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

04V428000OtherSeptember 1, 2004 · 100,432 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

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.

What owners report

“I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOME. I HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 2 MINUTES WHEN MY FRONT SPEAKERS SHUT OFF. I THEN START TO NOTICE A BURNING SMELL. I SEE THE INTERIOR START TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ENGINE FIRE AT FIRST UNTIL I NOTICED A FIRE IN MY PASSENGER DOOR SPEAKER. I PULLED…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · August 2, 2008 · fire

Common questions

How many other complaints does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

NHTSA has 27 complaints about the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer other — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer other?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the other: 04V428000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.