2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer.

20042006
Complaints
27
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#19 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:92,808 mi
Crash-related:2
#22 complaints

Suspension Failures

#31 complaints

Air Bags:Frontal

Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer.

Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
92,808
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Side/Rear Glass
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~277,795 vehicles.

18V220000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~17,120 affected

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.

17V569000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~66,001 affected

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.

16V458000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~194,674 affected

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

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer has 27 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Top reported problems: Airbags (9 complaints, avg 92,808 mi); Suspension Failures (2 complaints); Air Bags:Frontal (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 92,808 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer include 3 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 277,795 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

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.

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