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Mitsubishi LancerModel year report

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems

Complaints
37filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
100,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer. The part named most often is air bags, with 16 complaints (43% of the total), followed by suspension (9) and body and structure (5). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 30% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 100,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 69 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 36 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Suspension complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the lower arm and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Steering (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Activation of a nondesiccated ammonium nitrate inflator with degraded propellant may result in an inflator rupture. An inflator rupture may cause metal fragments to pass through the air bag and into the vehicle interior at high speed, which may result in injury or death to vehicle occupants.”

NHTSA complaint #11043900, filed 2017-11, 120,000 miles

Suspension: “Recall.the front lower control arm detach at the cross-member. Sub fram snaped while driving over speed bump at 4 MPH if that. On city st . I was on my way to go on express way when car wheel went crazy hurd loud boom like I hit son thing but I was only rolling over speed bump at aboutv4 miles cuz it was a big bump and did not want to mess my car up I did not even make it passes my back tiers. So LED bump was now between the car and I could not move or tire was gonna come off. I was not speeding. I was in my way to go on express way. Me and my kids could of died.”

NHTSA complaint #11093625, filed 2018-05, 4 miles

Body and structure: “Rear chassis member (a frame rail) corroded close to the point where rear subframe is connected. It is now a safety concern to drive the vehicle as any significant impact may cause the rear suspension to detach. There was already a recall on rust of the front subframe however it seems that the problem is in inadequate undercarriage protection”

NHTSA complaint #11245354, filed 2019-08, 116,000 miles

Brakes: “Removed foot from accelerator to begin braking for yellow light while driving approx. 25 MPH, as soon as I applied the brakes, the car surged forward as if at full throttle and did not stop accelerating until the impact from the collision. The sudden, unexpected acceleration happened two times before, each time right after I lifted my foot from the accelerator to begin braking. The accelerator had not (not) been fully depressed prior to the unexpected acceleration in any of the above incidents. …”

NHTSA complaint #10387128, filed 2011-03, 80,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

30% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 48,000 and 122,000 miles.

17%0–104%10–259%25–500%50–7517%75–10039%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 100,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’07’09’14’167’18’20’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Lancer · sedan FWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Lancer FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual233126$2,600
Lancer FWD2.0L 4-cyl4-speed automatic222925$2,700
Lancer FWD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual202723$2,900
Lancer FWD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic202722$3,050
Lancer Sportback FWD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic202622$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 69 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 69 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mitsubishi Lancer

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20176—0430—Not enough data
20163063,50024280 · FewerFalling
20152321,0001428—Stable
20141675,0000427—Stable
2013583,0000428—Not enough data
20121955,0001428—Falling
20113450,6063—2720 · FewerFalling
20105170,0006—2550 · TypicalFalling
20099875,0008—2486 · MoreFalling
20089133,0005—2487 · MoreFalling
200637100,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20052470,0003—23—Stable
20048060,0004—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200319949,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200214868,0002—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mitsubishi Lancer model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 16 complaints (43% of the total), followed by suspension with 9.

Has the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer (Lancer, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 100,000 miles and the middle half falls between 48,000 and 122,000 miles; 30% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.