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2006 Mitsubishi Lancer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 27.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

23 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

37 reports
25,900 miles · Oct 6, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,900. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10641779

80,000 miles · Mar 1, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury

REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO BEGIN BRAKING FOR YELLOW LIGHT WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 25 MPH, AS SOON AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS IF AT FULL THROTTLE AND DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING UNTIL THE IMPACT FROM THE COLLISION. THE SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION HAPPENED TWO TIMES BEFORE, EACH TIME RIGHT AFTER I LIF…

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REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO BEGIN BRAKING FOR YELLOW LIGHT WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 25 MPH, AS SOON AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS IF AT FULL THROTTLE AND DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING UNTIL THE IMPACT FROM THE COLLISION. THE SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION HAPPENED TWO TIMES BEFORE, EACH TIME RIGHT AFTER I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO BEGIN BRAKING. THE ACCELERATOR HAD NOT (NOT) BEEN FULLY DEPRESSED PRIOR TO THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IN ANY OF THE ABOVE INCIDENTS. ATTEMPT TO BRAKE BEFORE COLLISION WAS UNSUCCESSFUL;I HAD RECENTLY REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AGAIN (AFTER 5,000 MILES) BECAUSE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WAS NOT RELEASING, RIGHT PADS

NHTSA ODI #10387128

85,000 miles · Apr 25, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS KEEP FAILING. WAS PULLED OVER AFTER HAVING JUST REPLACED A BULB AND NOTIFIED THE BULB WAS OUT AGAIN. BLAMED THE SHOP THAT REPLACED THE BULB, AND HAD THEM PUT IN ANOTHER. THEN WHEN DRIVING A LONG DISTANCE DRIVE, AS I BEGAN TO GET DARK, ANOTHER MOTORIST FLASHED ME TO NOTIFY ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON, EVEN THO…

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HEADLIGHTS KEEP FAILING. WAS PULLED OVER AFTER HAVING JUST REPLACED A BULB AND NOTIFIED THE BULB WAS OUT AGAIN. BLAMED THE SHOP THAT REPLACED THE BULB, AND HAD THEM PUT IN ANOTHER. THEN WHEN DRIVING A LONG DISTANCE DRIVE, AS I BEGAN TO GET DARK, ANOTHER MOTORIST FLASHED ME TO NOTIFY ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE HEADLIGHTS ON, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE IN THE ON POSITION. BOTH LOW BEAMS HAD GONE OUT AND WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH BEAMS. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE MOTORIST NOTIFIED ME, AND THAT THE LIGHTS DID NOT BLOW AFTER DARK WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. TOOK TO SHOP, DIAGNOSTIC WAS RUN AND 1ST THOUGHT WAS THE ECU FOR HEADLIGHTS, ORDERED PART, INSTALLED AND 30 SECONDS AFTER RUNNING LIGHTS, BLEW THE NEW ECU PART. CURRENTLY ONLY 1 HEADLIGHT WORKS, AND ONLY ON HIGH BEAMS. SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WORK EVEN ON HIGH BEAMS. IF UNPLUGGED & PLUGGED BACK IN, ONLY THEN WILL IT WORK, BUT ONLY ON HIGH BEAMS. THERE IS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, BUT MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. TAKING BACK AGAIN MONDAY 4/27 FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIND THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME, I CONTINUE TO HAVE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE ME TO DRIVE AFTER DARK. ALL MITZUBISHI DEALERS & SERVICE IN MY TOWN HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE CLOSEST DEALER IS 2 HOURS AWAY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO 1. TAKE THE TIME TO DRIVE IT DOWN. 2. GET A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE PURCHASED NUMEROUS BULBS PRIOR TO KNOWING THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, AND HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON DIAGNOSTICS & ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. NONE OF THE OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR HAVE FAILED. ONLY THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266706

1,700 miles · May 6, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING DECELERATION. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A DRIVEWAY TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR S…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING DECELERATION. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A DRIVEWAY TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY HAD NOT PROVIDED ANY INFORMATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,700. UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10226815

19,131 miles · Aug 27, 2007
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. HE BELIEVED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALL THREE DAYS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RENTED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CU…

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TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. HE BELIEVED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALL THREE DAYS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RENTED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,282 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,131. UPDATED 09/19/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200864

600 miles · Mar 22, 2007
Air BagsEquipmentCrashInjury

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN EXTREME ACCIDENT AND ROLLOVER! 2006 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION - I HAVE PICTURES! VEHICLE HIT CURB, SPLIT TELEPHONE POLE, KNOCKED DOWN STREETLIGHT, STREET SIGN. 3 FOOT IMPACT ON SIDE, ALL PARTS OF CAR STRUCK- NO AIRBAG DEPLYMENT; NUMEROUS INJURIES! DRIVER HAS BROKEN PELVIS.

NHTSA ODI #10185900

4,500 miles · Nov 27, 2006
Electronic Stability ControlCrash

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD WITH THE ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGED, UPON ENTERING ONTO A PAVED ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND CRASHED INTO NEARBY PARKED FARMING EQUIPMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERAT…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD WITH THE ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGED, UPON ENTERING ONTO A PAVED ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND CRASHED INTO NEARBY PARKED FARMING EQUIPMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE BODY DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10174429

Official recalls

4

18V220000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Apr 5, 2018

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 new inflator under 15V321 or 17V569. These passenger side frontal air bag inflators may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to explode in the event of an air bag deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

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 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-005.

17V569000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Sep 14, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

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 service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-17-001. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-321.

16V458000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Jun 23, 2016

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, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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 with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.

16V334000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 23, 2016

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured June 29, 2005, to June 19, 2007, equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-002.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.