Mitsubishi Lancer: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Mitsubishi Lancer: 7 model years scored from 177 NHTSA owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns. Worst year 2011, best year 2014.
Mitsubishi Lancer: which years to avoid
Across 7 scored model years the Mitsubishi Lancer ranges from 80/100 in 2011 to 95/100 in 2013 — a 15-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Power Train (16 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2014 (score 84). Worst: 2011 (score 80, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 94 | BUY | $3,712 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 82 | BUY | $3,897 | 30 | 2 |
| 2015 | 87 | BUY | $4,074 | 26 | 1 |
| 2014 | 84 | BUY | $5,932 | 39 | 0 |
| 2013 | 95 | BUY | $6,022 | 8 | 0 |
| 2012 | 93 | BUY | $6,276 | 19 | 1 |
| 2011 | 80 | BUY | $6,452 | 49 | 3 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Lancer, through the years →
Lancer sub-models & family
Variants & trims on record
Body, powertrain and trim variants of the Lancer on the federal record. Variants folded into this nameplate are counted in this page's data; the rest have too thin a record for a page of their own yet.
What goes wrong on the Mitsubishi Lancer
Across every Lancer model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Power Train71 complaints across all Lancer years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Engine27 complaints across all Lancer years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints across all Lancer years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Air Bags19 complaints across all Lancer years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Electrical System16 complaints across all Lancer years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Structure15 complaints across all Lancer years · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair$1,070–$2,920
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Mitsubishi Lancer years to buy?
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2013 at 95/100, on 8 complaints and 0 recall campaigns.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer years should I avoid?
The 2011 is the weakest year we score, at 80/100 (BUY), on 49 complaints and 3 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Mitsubishi Lancer problem?
71 of the complaints filed against the Lancer across all its model years sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component.
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04