AI Damage2009 Mitsubishi Lancer: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer filed 98 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 98
- involving a crash
- 11
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 22% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 13% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- Engine: 22 complaints (22% of all).
- Electrical system: 19 complaints (19% of all).
- Service brakes: 16 complaints (16% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 14 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 13 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- CVTnamed in 2 complaints
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 98 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 16 | 7 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 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 contact stated that while driving down a hill at 15 mph, the brakes failed to operate as needed upon depression as the abs warning light illuminated. The contact had to pump his brakes repeatedly in an effort to stop the vehicle; he also applied the emergency brake for assistance before hitting a tree stump.
We have issues with the low beam headlights malfunctioning. They would cut off while going down the road. Would stay on when car and lights were turned off and we would have to take the relay out to get them turned off. They would flash on and off while the car was on or off.
Was not aware of this new recall in july 2020 a detached front control arm may make you lose control of the car .my 17 year old daughter lost control of her car because the right side tire started to shake and the steering wheel locked up and she was unable to control car and wrecked on 6/26/2020 her air bags on…
When I hit the pillar in front of me, the airbag didn't deploy and my seatbelt did not tighten as they were supposed to. This meant that my whole body snapped forward and impacted collarbone first into the steering wheel.
Accident 8/10/2016, the driver's side seat belt broke which allowed me to get tossed around my car and it flipped 8 times. None of the side airbags deployed.
2009 lancer mitsubishi - brake failure & transmission failure while driving about 60 miles per hr. Ended up on the side of the road and the car caught on fire. Reported - inspected but unable to hold mitsubishi liable because they did put out notice in may or june of the recall on the brake system.
I was driving down the road and spun out of control because my rack and pinion steering inner and outer tie rod snapped in half, because of rust from salt water and corrosion on the metal, resulting in my loss of control and front passenger wheel turned 90 degrees inward and nearly ripped the front tire off and under…
The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights turned off and turned on independently, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure.
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 3,615 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Lancer has 48 complaints (18 years in the data). This year has 98, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 98. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (10%), warning lights, check engine (10%), rust, corrosion (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer?
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 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.