2010 Mitsubishi LANCER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Mitsubishi LANCER has 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 36. The most common issue is engine problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2010 mitsubishi lancer. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v562000 (engine and engine cooling:engine) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall rep. There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
66
Total Complaints
6
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ENGINE
21 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REP
- • 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
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REP”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2010 Mitsubishi LANCER
Based on 27 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 70K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
BRAKES
ENGINE
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (6)
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.
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2010 Mitsubishi LANCER
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2010 Mitsubishi LANCER
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Mitsubishi New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
10 year powertrain not transferable
These are the terms for a new Mitsubishi. If you're buying a used 2010 LANCER, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Mitsubishi dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 66 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: 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 HIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐VISIBILITY: AFTER ABOUT 6 WEEKS USE, SUN VISORS IN MY NEW 2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER MALFUNCTION DURING USE, DRIFTING DOWNWARD OBSTRUCTING FORWARD VISION. VISORS WERE REPLACED AT DEALER. AFTER 4 TO 6 WEEKS, AGAIN THE NEW VISORS DRIFT DOWNWARD WHEN IN USE, OBSTRUCTING VISION. WHEN DRIVING TOWARD THE SUN, DRIVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: WHEN HITTING THE VOLUME CONTROL/HANDS FREE SYSTEM BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL THEY GET MIXED UP. IF I HIT VOLUME DOWN IT TRIGGERS THE HANDS FREE SYSTEM SO I HAVE TO HIT VOLUME UP WHICH WORKS IN ORDER TO GET THE VOLUME DOWN BUTTON TO FINALLY CORRECT ITSELF. IT'S ONLY JUST STARTED DOING THIS WITHIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Mitsubishi dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mitsubishi LANCER — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 66
- Recalls
- 6
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 5
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 36
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Mitsubishi LANCER