repaired · 2018 Q2
Control arm: lower arm
Risk. A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
2002 Mitsubishi LancerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 148 owner complaints about the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, most often about the visibility. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-458 the manufacturer reports only 17% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 27, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer has problems
148 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
25Visibility
23Air bags23 crash/fire/injury
22Power train3 crash/fire/injury
19Engine and engine cooling4 crash/fire/injury
16Service brakes, hydraulic3 crash/fire/injury
15Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
12Steering2 crash/fire/injury
10Vehicle speed control
7Structure
3112 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 25 | 0 |
| Air bags | 23 | 23 |
| Power train | 22 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 4 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 16 | 3 |
| Suspension | 15 | 1 |
| Steering | 12 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 2 |
| Structure | 7 | 0 |
| 12 other systems | 31 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mitsubishi.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Visibility
9 owners mentioned a cost$900median
Middle half: $500 – $1,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other Lancer year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Lancer median. How we score
'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer safety ratings
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Lancer owners report
Recent visibility complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact's daughter owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she felt an air draft inside of the vehicle. The contact's daughter attempted to close the sunroof when she noticed that the sunroof had detached from the vehicle.…
THE KNOBS TO CONTROL THE HEATING AND DEFOGGING IS BROKEN. IT HAS BEEN UNUSUALLY COLD IN GEORGIA THIS WINTER AND THE DEFOGGERS ONLY EMIT COLD AIR. I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING AROUND 6:10AM AND I WARM THE CAR BEFORE MY 7YR. GETS IN. NOW WE HAVE TO HAVE BLANKETS FOR HER BECAUSE THE…
THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER CONTROL KNOB WAS HARD TO TURN FROM THE MOMENT WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS SINCE BROKE OFF. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Own a 2002 Lancer?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.