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2009 Mitsubishi Lancer reliability record

NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.

NHTSA source snapshot · 2026Consumer reports are not verified defects Official source
NHTSA complaints
139
Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
Top problem area
ENGINE
22 complaints
Recalls on record
6
see below
Reported harm
23 reported crashes · 21 injuries · 4 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.

Complaint rank

#3,376

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Mitsubishi median

-36

median 175 across 37 Mitsubishi records

Vs 2007-2011

-120

median 260 complaints in 736 records

Top component share

16%

Engine: 22 complaints

What owners report fails — 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

  • ENGINE 22
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19
  • POWER TRAIN 12
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12
  • SERVICE BRAKES 9

6 recalls on record for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

  • NHTSA 20V279000 · 2020 · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • NHTSA 18V069000 · 2018 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLIN If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • NHTSA 18V071000 · 2018 · VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a cra
  • NHTSA 15V233000 · 2015 · VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTE Failure of the blower motor may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility
  • NHTSA 15V232000 · 2015 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Unstable voltage could result in intermittent failure of the vehicle's head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.

Open TCO calculator

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?

NHTSA has 139 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer and 6 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (22 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Owners most often report problems with: engine (22), electrical system (19), power train (12), exterior lighting (12). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer?

This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.

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