AI Damage2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 22
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 77% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 18% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 9% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 5% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 17 complaints (77% of all).
- Steering: 4 complaints (18% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (9% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (5% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (5% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 22 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The placement of the pump is a design flaw and has led to severe corrosion of the pump housing and failure of the pump. The failure of the pump completely disables both the active center differential and the active yaw control systems, both of which are intended to assist the driver in controlling the car under…
As I was driving my car it began to jerk I pulled over and shut the car off when I started it again the awc light came on and was not functioning after when pulling off I noticed the car did not want to shift gears unless in manual for so the sst had failed on me
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 mitsubishi lancer ralliart. The contact received a notification for nhtsa campaign id number: 14v562000 (engine) and stated that the part was not available. The dealer gave a specific date for when the part would become available which was unreasonable.
Then the awc service required light came on I brought it to the dealer they turned the light off said it was a ecu update. As it got warm out it came on periodically but would turn off. Every time I brought it to the dealer they couldn't duplicate the problem. Now the light has come on and stayed on.
I was traveling at approximately 45-50 mph when my awd service required light came on. Steering /traction on the car was immediately different and not as easy as normal.
The contact stated that the vehicle stalled several times without warning . The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the serpentine belt was severed. The serpentine belt was replaced but the failure was not corrected.
2009 mitsubshi lancer ralliart pulls hard to right at all times. Took to dealer they said there's nothing they can do about it. Took to a suspension shop said manufacture set camber is off. I have went thru my third set of front tires in only 45,000 miles. I believe this should be investigated for safety.
I noticed a very very strong raw fuel or gas smell coming in from the vents. The air conditioner was on, so I turned it to recirculating air, it persisted, so I turned the air conditioner off, but the very strong gasoline smell, to my amazement, persisted.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,904 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Lancer Ralliart has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 22, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, steering, engine. Total complaints: 22. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (32%), rust, corrosion (9%), transmission slipping (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.