Representative model. Photo: Cutlass, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2003 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 7
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 311
Latest campaign: Jun 23, 2016

Recall summary by component7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Exterior lighting	4	May 11, 2009	09E025000 06E064000 06E038000 06E023000
Equipment	2	Sep 1, 2004	04V428000 04V138000
Suspension	1	Jun 23, 2016	16V458000

Safety recalls7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jun 23, 2016Latest campaign


Jun 23, 201616V458000	Suspension: front control arm A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V458000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Filed under Lancer, Lancer Evolution Campaign NHTSA 16V458000 · Jun 23, 2016
May 11, 200909E025000	Exterior lighting: headlights DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 09E025000 What's wrong DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS. Risk DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Remedy DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798. Filed under Lancer Campaign NHTSA 09E025000 · May 11, 2009
Jul 17, 200606E064000	Exterior lighting LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 06E064000 What's wrong CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. Risk LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Remedy TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884. Filed under Lancer Campaign NHTSA 06E064000 · Jul 17, 2006
May 8, 200606E038000	Exterior lighting WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. DetailsHide details for campaign 06E038000 What's wrong CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. Risk WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Remedy ALFAOTTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALFAOTTO AT 626-656-2992 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ALFAOTTO.COM. Filed under Lancer Campaign NHTSA 06E038000 · May 8, 2006
Mar 13, 200606E023000	Exterior lighting: headlights WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 06E023000 What's wrong CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." Risk WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Remedy ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688. Filed under Lancer Campaign NHTSA 06E023000 · Mar 13, 2006
Sep 1, 200404V428000	Equipment: other labels THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. DetailsHide details for campaign 04V428000 What's wrong 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. Risk THIS DOES NOT MEET THE 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 RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715. Filed under Lancer Campaign NHTSA 04V428000 · Sep 1, 2004

Merged from NHTSA model names: Lancer, Lancer Evolution. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component311

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

311Complaints filed

16Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

14Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power train	120	39	4	0	3
Visibility	77	25	0	0	0
Structure	23	7	0	0	0
Electrical system	21	7	0	1	0
Unknown or other	18	6	2	0	2
Engine and engine cooling	16	5	0	0	0
Equipment	15	5	0	1	0
Suspension	11	4	0	0	0
Air bags	9	3	8	0	8
Vehicle speed control	8	3	0	0	0
Service brakes	8	3	1	0	0
Steering	7	2	1	0	0
Hydraulic	7	2	0	0	0
Visibility/wiper	6	2	0	0	0
Exterior lighting	5	2	0	0	0

13 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Unknown or other
“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 panel.”
Filed 06/08/2026 · ODI 11742724
Unknown or other
“My vehicle was clean title but then it was considered salvage title, it was involved in a car accident on 9/07/2023 . I never knew about the recall because I am not the first owner.”
Filed 01/22/2026 · ODI 11712740
Exterior lighting
“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 being foggy.”
Filed 12/16/2024 · ODI 11630953

Other Mitsubishi Lancer model years

All years: 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002

Other Mitsubishi models

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2003 Mitsubishi Lancer recall questions

How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer. The most recent, 16V458000 (reported June 23, 2016), concerns suspension. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls for?

The largest group is exterior lighting, with 4 campaigns. Others: equipment (2), suspension (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 120 complaints out of 311 filed with NHTSA (39%). Across all complaints, owners reported 16 crashs and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

Check a specific Mitsubishi by VIN

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