Worst 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbags
Air Bags:Frontal
Visibility
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 12 | 12 | — | 107,877 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 | 12 | — | 57,896 mi | |
| Visibility | 10 | — | — | 95,571 mi | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 9 | — | — | 185,300 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 8 | — | — | 108,427 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 8 | 2 | — | 74,003 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 6 | — | — | 135,750 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 6 | — | — | 118,209 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 | 2 | — | 20,381 mi | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 5 | — | — | 67,749 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 5 | 1 | — | 27,460 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 5 | — | — | 52,625 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | 2 | — | 174,283 mi | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element | 5 | — | — | 97,022 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~194,674 vehicles.
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.
Other Mitsubishi Lancer Years
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer?
How safe is the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Does the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mitsubishi Lancer reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99