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#BS-2012-MITLAN-7780

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer

Based on reports from 26 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Complaints
26
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Recalls
1
TSBs
88
🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 26 complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

gas smell coming through ac vents

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

gas mixing with oil

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

will not shift

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the DrivetrainHIGH

6 owners reported drivetrain issues — failures commonly reported around 55K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

9
0–30K
3
30–60K
6
60–90K
90–120K
2
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (9 reports) • Median: 55K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Drivetrain (6 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

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

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Drivetrain6 (23%)
Engine5 (19%)
Steering2 (8%)
Speed Control2 (8%)
Visibility2 (8%)
Fuel System2 (8%)
Airbags1 (4%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor1 (4%)

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 23% of all reports filed for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 55,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 55K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 19% of all reports filed for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-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

3
13
1
14
3
16
4
18
2
19
2
20
7
21
1
23
3
24

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

18V069000Mar 2018

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

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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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.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

26

Class avg

282

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical compact cars vehicles. A good sign.

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. 26 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Mitsubishi Lancer Model Years

2017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996
View all Mitsubishi Lancer years →

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer is related to the drivetrain, with 6 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer has 26 complaints, 7 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer have any recalls?
Yes, the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Mitsubishi Lancer problems start?
Based on 20 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 55,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 26 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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