2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 4%of 199 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer, 4% of the 199 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The air conditioning and heater controls knobs on dashboard. Do not turn. Can't. Adjust temperature electrical cercuit in the emissions system has low voltage that causes the engine.light to cpme on and turn off at random. The front headlights are very week in lumins. When driving on the highway and city streets , the car accelerates on its own without. Me pushing. On the foot pedel.. The sunroof moter came unattended on it own.”
NHTSA complaint #11286324, filed 2019-12, 165,000 miles“The temperature knob broke easily because it was hard to turn making the defroster impossible to use which is a safety hazard. Furthermore the cruise control was always faulty to begin with but now it isn't even usable. Automatic transmission also loves to lurch into 3rd gear while slowing down at the same time and then jumping back into the speed I was previously going. This issue usually happens at speeds lower than 50 MPH.”
NHTSA complaint #10822669, filed 2016-01, 20 miles“The consumer experienced sudden acceleration . The consumer stated that when applying the brakes, the vehicle accelerated. The consumer contacted the manufacturer, who also was at a loss for an explanation as to why this defect occurred. The accelerator pedal would stick, the heater controls would bind up when turned on and at times the accelerator pedal would go to the floor.”
NHTSA complaint #10099601, filed 2004-12, 18,000 miles“Continuing cruise control failure. 1. Ever since I purchased this car in 2003 it has had a problem with the cruise control. While driving at highway speeds with the cruise control set and then suddenly increasing your speed while say passing or speeding up, once you let off the gas to return to the cruise control speed the engine will suddenly rev and will not stop increasing speed until you release the cruise control by hitting the brake or the button on the steering wheel to disengage the control. 2. …”
NHTSA complaint #10306047, filed 2010-02, 1,000 miles“Lancer oz rally edition: within 6 months of ownership, noticed problems with cruise control, occuring at any speed in which cruise control function is used: when vehicle was in cruise control and accelerating at set speed, car would accelerate excessively for very minimal inclines. When using the coast function, vehicle would slow down until you let off the switch, and then speed would rapidly increase beyond previous position, before finally settling back to the reduced speed chosen. …”
NHTSA complaint #10096195, filed 2004-10, 7,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10015820May 1, 2005Cruise control diagnosis - service manual revision.
- 10018380Dec 1, 2004Sport pedal installation tools. Mitsubishi. Tech talk.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 | 13% |
| 2015 | 1 | 4% |
| 2012 | 2 | 11% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2009 | 5 | 5% |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 3 | 8% |
| 2005 | 2 | 8% |
| 2004 | 7 | 9% |
| 2003 | 7 | 4% |
| 2002 | 10 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
76 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
51 complaintsOther or unknown
17 complaintsEquipment
13 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology