2012 Mitsubishi LANCER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mitsubishi LANCER has 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 mitsubishi lancer. the contact stated that when the accelerator was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled with no warnings. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and the mechanic stated that the central computer needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not rep.

6 crash reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

6 complaints

23%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED WITH NO WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CENTRAL COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP
• RECEIVED VEHICLE AT 10KM, AFTER 2 OIL CHANGES, AT 16000KM MILIEGE DROPPED FROM 700KM ON A TANK OF GAS TO 300KM TANK OF GAS. AT 24000KM HEAVY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NOISES OCCURRED. GEARS SLIPPING OUT WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING RPMS TO SHOOT UP TO 6000-7000 WHILE VEHICLE NOT MOVING. TIMING BELT AND
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED WITH NO WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CENTRAL COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

23%

• RECEIVED VEHICLE AT 10KM, AFTER 2 OIL CHANGES, AT 16000KM MILIEGE DROPPED FROM 700KM ON A TANK OF GAS TO 300KM TANK OF GAS. AT 24000KM HEAVY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NOISES OCCURRED. GEARS SLIPPING OUT WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING RPMS TO SHOOT UP TO 6000-7000 WHILE VEHICLE NOT MOVING. TIMING BELT AND
• EL CARRO CUANDO VA SUBIENDO CUESTA LARGAS NO ACCELERA SE QUEDA SIN FUERZA Y DICE QUE BAJE LA VELOCIDAD SI EL SOLO LO BAJA Y NO PERMITE ACCELERAL Y EL MOTOR TIENE UN RUIDO QUENO ES NORMAL NI LO HACIA ANTES
• SST TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING LIKE IT IN NEUTRAL. THEN WHEN YOU PULL OVER ONLY WAY TO GET IT SHIFTING GEARS IS TO TURN CAR OFF WAIT 10 SEC AND TURN BACK ON . THEN DRIVES NORMAL AGAIN. BEEN DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR TWO YEARS CAR HAS 60000 MILES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“RECEIVED VEHICLE AT 10KM, AFTER 2 OIL CHANGES, AT 16000KM MILIEGE DROPPED FROM 700KM ON A TANK OF GAS TO 300KM TANK OF GAS. AT 24000KM HEAVY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NOISES OCCURRED. GEARS SLIPPING OUT WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING RPMS TO SHOOT UP TO 6000-7000 WHILE VEHICLE NOT MOVING. TIMING BELT AND ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE LOW FUEL IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FUEL GAUGE READING THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK FULL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER F
• RECEIVED VEHICLE AT 10KM, AFTER 2 OIL CHANGES, AT 16000KM MILIEGE DROPPED FROM 700KM ON A TANK OF GAS TO 300KM TANK OF GAS. AT 24000KM HEAVY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NOISES OCCURRED. GEARS SLIPPING OUT WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING RPMS TO SHOOT UP TO 6000-7000 WHILE VEHICLE NOT MOVING. TIMING BELT AND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE LOW FUEL IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FUEL GAUGE READING THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK FULL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, A SQUEAKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPL
• The front subframe(cross member) blew out, due to excessive corrosion. Causing the control arm to dismount as well as separation of the CV axle from the transmission, while traveling down the road losing complete steer of the vehicle. Luckily I was coming to a stop sign and not traveling on the high

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, A SQUEAKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR
• EL CARRO CUANDO VA SUBIENDO CUESTA LARGAS NO ACCELERA SE QUEDA SIN FUERZA Y DICE QUE BAJE LA VELOCIDAD SI EL SOLO LO BAJA Y NO PERMITE ACCELERAL Y EL MOTOR TIENE UN RUIDO QUENO ES NORMAL NI LO HACIA ANTES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 26 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED WITH NO WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CENTRAL COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: RECEIVED VEHICLE AT 10KM, AFTER 2 OIL CHANGES, AT 16000KM MILIEGE DROPPED FROM 700KM ON A TANK OF GAS TO 300KM TANK OF GAS. AT 24000KM HEAVY TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NOISES OCCURRED. GEARS SLIPPING OUT WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING RPMS TO SHOOT UP TO 6000-7000 WHILE VEHICLE NOT MOVING. TIMING BELT AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE LOW FUEL IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FUEL GAUGE READING THREE QUARTERS OF A TANK FULL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, A SQUEAKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)