VehicleVerdict

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer carries two red flags at once: 96 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 2.6× the Lancer norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the Lancer years to avoid.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across visibility & wipers (23), airbags (19), and other (8), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

96

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

8

Crash-involved

5

Fires reported

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2004 compare to other Lancer years?

Lancer NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted242 complaints1996: 1 complaints2000: 1 complaints2002: 194 complaints2003: 242 complaints2004: 96 complaints2005: 27 complaints2006: 52 complaints2007: 3 complaints2008: 126 complaints2009: 139 complaints2010: 66 complaints2011: 51 complaints2012: 26 complaints2013: 9 complaints2014: 23 complaints2015: 36 complaints2016: 38 complaints2017: 7 complaints
Lancer NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Lancer years to avoid →

What are the most common 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Visibility & Wipers2324%
Airbags1920%
Other88%
Engine88%
Transmission77%
Electrical System77%
Speed Control77%
Suspension66%
Body & Structure33%
Brakes22%
Lighting22%
Seat Belts22%
Tires & Wheels11%
Steering11%

Does the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

18V220000AirbagsApril 5, 2018 · 17,120 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

17V569000AirbagsSeptember 14, 2017 · 66,001 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

16V458000SuspensionJune 23, 2016 · 194,674 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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.

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

06E064000LightingJuly 17, 2006 · 4,029 units

Defect

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

06E023000LightingMarch 13, 2006 · 292,000 units

Defect

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

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.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA15001

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“THE AIR AND HEAT FLOW KNOB BROKE OFF AS I TURNED IT FROM COLD TO HEAT THIS MORNING. NOW I CANT HEAT UP THE CAR IT IS STUCK ON COLD. DUE TO THIS THE DEFROST WILL NOT WORK EITHER. I HAVE NO HEAT IN MY CAR AS OF THIS MORNING DUE TO THE KNOB BREAKING OFF AS I TURNED IT. PART OF THE WHITE PLASTIC PIECE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · September 11, 2012

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING FILLING THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH WHITE SMOKE. DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG WHICH BLOCKED THE VISION OF THE CONTACT THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · February 6, 2010 · crash · fire

“2004 MITSUBISHI LANCE CUSTOMER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DASH DESIGN. [REDACTED]CC THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HIT HER. THERE WAS A VERY LONG, LARGE PIECE OF THE PLASTIC DECORATIVE DASHBOARD THAT THE CONSUMER BELIEVED ACTED LIKE A WHIP WHICH CAME FROM…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · January 1, 1901 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. MOMENTS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO LOSE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 2, 2012

“THIS CAR KEEPS IDLING HIGH WHEN IT EITHER GETS WARM OUT OR IF I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER CANNOT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · June 15, 2011 · crash

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer — common questions

Is the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 96 complaints put the 2004 model at #5 of 18 Lancer years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Lancer years to avoid.

What are the most common 2004 Lancer problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are visibility & wipers (23 complaints), airbags (19 complaints), other (8 complaints).

Does the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Mitsubishi Lancer years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Lancer years to avoid are 2003, 2002, 2009, 2008, 2004, 2010, 2005. The cleanest record among Lancer years belongs to 2000.

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.