2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, and owners have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Suspension: lower arm
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,…
Remedy: 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…
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Labels (equipment)
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the bilingual english/spanish removable air bag warning labels affixed to the dash and to the sunvisor do not meet the size requirements of the standard.
Remedy: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label. In addition, all current 2000-2004 nativa owners will also…
199 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA; 13 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 56,018 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 29 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The front subframe on the drivers side of the vehicle broke while maneuvering a right turn at a safe speed. This incident caused additional damage to the vehicle, with noticeable damage to the quarter”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 8, 2026 · Unknown or other
“Need to correct manufacture recalls. Car has 262000 miles. Actual owner in my family. Want to correct issues before accident happens. I have very poor vision when driving because of car head lights be”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 16, 2024 · Exterior lighting
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer (Lancer Evolution). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–24 / 23–30 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mitsubishi Lancer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mitsubishi Lancer model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer | 2 | 148 |
| 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer | 2 | 199 |
| 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer | 4 | 80 |
| 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer | 3 | 24 |
| 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer | 4 | 37 |
| 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer | 2 | 2 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer | 5 | 91 |
| 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer | 8 | 98 |
| 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer | 6 | 51 |
| 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer | 3 | 34 |
| 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer | 1 | 19 |
| 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer | 0 | 16 |
| 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer | 1 | 23 |
| 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer | 2 | 30 |
| 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer | 0 | 6 |
Checking a specific 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
How do I know if my 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mitsubishi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V428000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mitsubishi models
- Eclipse2,135 complaints
- Galant1,788 complaints
- Outlander1,322 complaints
- Montero783 complaints
- Mirage702 complaints
- Diamante505 complaints
- Outlander Sport476 complaints
- 3000GT461 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.