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#BS-2002-MITLAN-77802002 Mitsubishi Lancer
Based on reports from 194 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 194 complaints, 47 crashes, 1 fires, and 4 recalls.
Top reported problems
dies while driving
2 complaints • Severity 10/10
climate blend box not switching
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
turns overwont start
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
12 owners reported air bags:frontal issues — failures commonly reported around 65K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (36 reports) • Median: 65K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Air Bags:frontal (12 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Air Bags:frontal Issues
Air Bags:frontal complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 65,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 65K-mile mark.
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 12 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Visibility Issues
Visibility complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System Issues
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (4 recalls)
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
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.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Mitsubishi Lancer is the 2011 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)
This vehicle
194
Class avg
176
Complaint volume is roughly in line with other compact cars vehicles from 2002.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 194 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Mitsubishi Lancer Model Years
View all Mitsubishi Lancer years →2002 Mitsubishi Lancer: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Is the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
Does the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer have any recalls?
What mileage do Mitsubishi Lancer problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
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Get the Full 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 194 owner reports. Know before you buy.