RecallMyCar

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer, and owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
24
owner complaints to NHTSA
3 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–26
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V220000 Reported 17,120 vehicles potentially affected Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles that previously received a like-for-like passenger side frontal air bag inflator under recall 15V321 as interim remedy. Also recalled are 2004-2006 Lancer vehicles located in Guam or Saipan that previously received or never received a…

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 17V569000 Reported 66,001 vehicles potentially affected Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

    Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer…

  3. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 16V458000 Reported 194,674 vehicles potentially affected Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

    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…

24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 68,223 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 4 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The steering column on my 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer ES detached while driving. The entire column dropped down from its mounting brackets, causing loss of control. This is a serious safety hazard. The mou”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 24, 2025 · Steering

“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that the cup from the ball joints, the front end, tie rod, unknown wiring harness and the driver's side headlight failed. The vehicle”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 29, 2020 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer (Lancer Evolution, Lancer Sportback). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–26 mpg
City / Highway17–24 / 23–31
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classCompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine4 cyl, 2/2.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd

Compare Mitsubishi Lancer model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mitsubishi Lancer model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1996 Mitsubishi Lancer01
2000 Mitsubishi Lancer01
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer2148
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer2199
2004 Mitsubishi Lancer480
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer324
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer437
2007 Mitsubishi Lancer22
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer591
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer898
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer651
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer334
2012 Mitsubishi Lancer119
2013 Mitsubishi Lancer05
2014 Mitsubishi Lancer016
2015 Mitsubishi Lancer123
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer230
2017 Mitsubishi Lancer06

Checking a specific 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer

How do I know if my 2005 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 2005 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 16V458000).

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

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.