Short answer
Among Mitsubishi Lancer model years through 2024, 2017 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2009 has the most (10). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mitsubishi Lancer: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 16 (2002–2017)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 21
- Fewest recalls
- 2017 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2009 (10)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (10)
Mitsubishi Lancer Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2016 | 2 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Power train |
| 2015 | 2 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 2 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering |
| 2013 | 1 | 4 stars | Power train |
| 2012 | 2 | 4 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2011 | 4 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Visibility |
| 2010 | 7 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Electrical system |
| 2009 | 10 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Air bags |
| 2008 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, other |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Suspension |
| 2006 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Suspension |
| 2005 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Suspension |
| 2004 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Suspension |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Suspension |
| 2002 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20170 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20152 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 20131 recall
- 20122 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20107 recalls
- 200910 recalls
- 20087 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20064 recalls
- 20054 recalls
- 20044 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20022 recalls
Mitsubishi Lancer: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mitsubishi Lancer recalls are air bags (10), engine and engine cooling (9), power train (7), suspension (6) and visibility (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 6 of these 16 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Mitsubishi Lancer Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mitsubishi Lancer?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2017 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer model years have the most recalls?
2009 has the most, with 10 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Lancer", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy