2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year cluster around two things: a temperature-control knob on the heating/ventilation panel that is stiff from early on and eventually breaks, leaving owners unable to select heat or defrost, and automatic transmission behavior where the engine revs without the car accelerating and then engages with a lurch. Many of the heating complaints describe the stiffness being present from the first months of ownership, so it is worth turning the knob by hand before buying.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Stiff, breaking heater/AC temperature knob

   • 89 complaints (45%)
   • median 73,500 mi at 6.6 yrs old (58 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $750 (median of 26 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2019

   Owners describe the hot-to-cold temperature knob as hard to turn from nearly new, sometimes needing force to move past the middle of its travel; a clicking or sliding sound behind the center console is often mentioned. Over time the knob snaps off its shaft or the cable/air-mix linkage fails, leaving the system stuck on cold or heat. Complaints report dealers oiling the knob, replacing the cable, or quoting work involving dashboard removal and heater box or control panel replacement, and that the stiffness returned after repair. Reported across a wide mileage span, from a few hundred miles to over 100,000, with the stiffness noted early in ownership and the breakage usually following years later.

   What to check: Turn the temperature knob slowly through its full range with the engine off and again with the blower on, and ask whether the control panel, cable, or air-mix door has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The heat/AC knob on my 2003 Mitsubishi has been extremely difficult to turn. This is especially hazardous when trying to defrost the windshield. I've reported the issue several times to Mitsubishi and they have stated that they've never heard of this problem. However, the more I research, the more I find that this is a problem for others. This knob has been difficult to use from day one.”

   NHTSA complaint #10370705, filed 2010-12, 108,000 miles

   “I turned the hot/cold dial to hot one winter morning and the cable snapped there for the heat did not work anymore. I took it in for repairs, they replaced the cable $300 later it snapped again 2 months later. No the Mitsubishi dealership is telling me that its the heater box that needs to be replaced and its going to cost me $2000 to have it replace. So now its november 15 and I don't have any heat!”

   NHTSA complaint #10173593, filed 2006-11, 53,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Clutch and clutch slave cylinder problems

   • 23 complaints (12%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 1.3 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2013

   Manual-transmission owners describe a clutch pedal that goes soft or to the floor, fluid loss traced to a leaking slave or master cylinder, and difficulty engaging gears; some report the clutch slipping or squealing at low mileage. Complaints mention brake fluid needing periodic topping up to keep the clutch working, and dealers diagnosing the slave cylinder or replacing clutch parts. Spread from a few thousand miles to around 70,000, including several reports in the first 3,000-12,000 miles on Evolution models.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Press the clutch pedal repeatedly and check that it returns firmly, look for fluid around the clutch master and slave cylinders under the hood, and check the reservoir level.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Loss of clutch operation while at red stop light, clutch pedal depressed, car in first gear, foot slightly on brake. Clutch pedal started feeling soft, then without clutch pedal movement, clutch engaged. Later that day, I find oil under my car. Took to dealership and reported problem, and was advised that slave cylinder was leaking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10116138, filed 2005-03, 59,840 miles

   “I recently purchased a evo8 in december, there was 339 miles on it when I bought it. It was the last of 2003s. At around 2500 miles the clutch started slipping, took it into the service dept. At huggin's mitsu. It told the representative what was happening and that it could be coincidense but I had got gas the day before the car started to run poorly. He assured me that was my problem, he wouldn't even go look at the car when I asked. So over the weekend the problem worsened, was back at service moday morning. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10058948, filed 2004-02, 2,500 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission revs then engages with a lurch

   • 26 complaints (13%)
   • median 12,000 mi at 2.1 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2015

   Owners report that under acceleration, often around 20-30 mph, the engine revs without the car picking up speed and then the gear engages suddenly, producing a lurch; some describe the same thing when rolling off the throttle and back on. Transmission fluid changes and dealer repairs, including valve body replacement in some cases, are described as either not helping or the symptom returning. One complaint mentions a crack in the transmission housing. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 115,000 miles, with several complaints under about 30,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at steady low speed, accelerate moderately from about 20 mph, and then lift off and reapply the throttle to see whether the revs flare or the car hesitates before engaging; ask for transmission service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ever since I bought my car 2 years ago it has sputtered and jerked but at first not that bad. The last year has been the worst. It stays revved up and then it will kick into gear. Finally christmas eve it broke down. The mechanic told me it is a hair line crack about 2 inches long on the transmission housing. Sure enough there is and I have a dead car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10146597, filed 2005-12, 77,000 miles

   “I bought my 2003 Lancer es when it had 16,000 miles on it, by about 30,000 miles I noticed that the automatic transmission seemed to be slipping, sometimes when driving and I would let up on accelerator to slow and then would depress accelerator again the car would act like it was in neutral, car did not accelerate, this happened on the highway and at slow speeds, 30 miles an hour or slower. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10151780, filed 2006-03, 30,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front suspension creaks, clunks and loose steering column

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 104,624 mi at 8.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2021

   Owners report creaking and groaning from the front suspension over bumps, and in one case a tie rod fracturing while turning at low speed. Separately, several complaints describe the steering column feeling loose and then dropping down toward the driver's lap when the key was inserted, with dealers attributing it to wear and charging for repair. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 200,000 miles, with the steering column complaints around 65,000-105,000 miles.

   Recall 16V458000

   What to check: Listen for creaks over speed bumps and rough pavement, push and pull the steering wheel to check column play, and ask whether the lower control arm recall work was completed for the state where the car is registered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My steering column was slightly loose, but a mechanic assured me there no problem. About 2 weeks later, the entire steering column fell into my lap as I attempted to insert the key into the ignition. I was able to push the column back into place and get the car across the street to a Mitsubishi dealership who said the car was out of warranty and had too many miles. I do not believe that this is a warranty issue and told the person at the dealership my belief. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10209806, filed 2007-11, 104,624 miles

   “2003 Lancer oz rally, steering column fell down in my lap. Factory said to bad, out of warranty and no recall issued. My local dealer wants 700+ dollars to fix it, this is outrageous the car only has 64,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10378526, filed 2011-01, 64,000 miles

Buying note. These are older cars, so condition and service history matter more than the issue list. Before buying, work the heater/AC temperature knob through its full range, test the transmission at low speed under light throttle, listen for front-end creaks, and confirm whether the lower control arm recall was performed for the state where the car is registered.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.