2009 Mitsubishi Lancer reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 139
- 12 in the last 5 years
- 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 ratesComplaint 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.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese 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. Data as of 2026. 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?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.