2013 Mitsubishi LANCER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2013 Mitsubishi LANCER has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: about a month ago service check engine light has been coming on and throws code p1875(damper speed sensor) . i've been told by mitsubishi there is no fix for this other than purchasing a new $15,000 sst transmission from them. the car is not even worth that much by now. how is it that mitsubishi doe.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

22%

• ABOUT A MONTH AGO SERVICE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND THROWS CODE P1875(DAMPER SPEED SENSOR) . I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS OTHER THAN PURCHASING A NEW $15,000 SST TRANSMISSION FROM THEM. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH BY NOW. HOW IS IT THAT MITSUBISHI DOE
• WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP CAR HAS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING. ITS EVEN WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES TO BE TOLD ITS THE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION IT IS (CVT). I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE CASE WHEN A PERSON ON A BICYCLE CAN TAKE OFF AT A

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

“ABOUT A MONTH AGO SERVICE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND THROWS CODE P1875(DAMPER SPEED SENSOR) . I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS OTHER THAN PURCHASING A NEW $15,000 SST TRANSMISSION FROM THEM. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH BY NOW. HOW IS IT THAT MITSUBISHI DOE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

22%

• TAKATA RECALL- ABS LIGHT IS ON PER RECALL IT HAS TO DO WITH AIR BAG INFLATOR IN OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS. ALSO THE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN AND OVER HEATS. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED. THIS IS THE TIME IT HAPPENED.
• WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP CAR HAS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING. ITS EVEN WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES TO BE TOLD ITS THE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION IT IS (CVT). I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE CASE WHEN A PERSON ON A BICYCLE CAN TAKE OFF AT A

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

“TAKATA RECALL- ABS LIGHT IS ON PER RECALL IT HAS TO DO WITH AIR BAG INFLATOR IN OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS. ALSO THE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN AND OVER HEATS. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED. THIS IS THE TIME IT HAPPENED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

22%

• VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY,. ONCE IT DID TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY MORE OFTEN, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERIES WERE STILL GOOD. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0420, IT SEEMS TO BE THE CATALYST CONV
• MASTER CYLINDER CLUTCH IS FAULTY CAUSING THE PROBLEMS IN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. AN ARTICLE ONLINE STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FROM 2008-2013 REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PER WEB ARTICLE RETRIEVED 06/10/2020 : HTTPS://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/CAR-NEWS/2008-13-MITSUBISHI-LANC

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

“VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY,. ONCE IT DID TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY MORE OFTEN, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERIES WERE STILL GOOD. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0420, IT SEEMS TO BE THE CATALYST CONV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

1 complaints

11%

• TAKATA RECALL- ABS LIGHT IS ON PER RECALL IT HAS TO DO WITH AIR BAG INFLATOR IN OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS. ALSO THE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN AND OVER HEATS. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED. THIS IS THE TIME IT HAPPENED.

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

1 complaints

11%

• TAKATA RECALL- ABS LIGHT IS ON PER RECALL IT HAS TO DO WITH AIR BAG INFLATOR IN OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS. ALSO THE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN AND OVER HEATS. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED. THIS IS THE TIME IT HAPPENED.

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: ABOUT A MONTH AGO SERVICE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND THROWS CODE P1875(DAMPER SPEED SENSOR) . I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS OTHER THAN PURCHASING A NEW $15,000 SST TRANSMISSION FROM THEM. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH BY NOW. HOW IS IT THAT MITSUBISHI DOE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TAKATA RECALL- ABS LIGHT IS ON PER RECALL IT HAS TO DO WITH AIR BAG INFLATOR IN OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS. ALSO THE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN AND OVER HEATS. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED. THIS IS THE TIME IT HAPPENED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY,. ONCE IT DID TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY MORE OFTEN, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERIES WERE STILL GOOD. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0420, IT SEEMS TO BE THE CATALYST CONV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TAKATA RECALL- ABS LIGHT IS ON PER RECALL IT HAS TO DO WITH AIR BAG INFLATOR IN OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS. ALSO THE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN AND OVER HEATS. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED. THIS IS THE TIME IT HAPPENED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)