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EnginePart report

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Engine Problems

Complaints
22about this part
Share
22%of 98 total for the year
Median mileage
70,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the engine of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, 22% of the 98 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I went to a recall service for sunroof and drive belt on april 09,2018.today, after one year I'm waiting yet for the Mitsubishi call because the parts was unavailable, so they ordered them. I called many times, they said the drive belt arrived but not the sunroof. They have the drive belt and did not call me to install it. My A/C compressor stop working, I'm not sure but somebody told that this drive belt and A/C compressor works together. Today I received a postal letter from Mitsubishi to warning about the sunroof again. One year ago I went with the car for inspection and I still waiting”

NHTSA complaint #11195879, filed 2019-04, 116,000 miles

“I was driving northbound on the ca is-15 north at approximately 5:55 pm pst between the exits of 138/wrightwood and the route 395/joshua street exit. I was traveling in the fast lane going about 68-72 MPH. I got a service required error light flashing, then the slow down light came on with a picture of a thermometer. I checked the temperature gauge (which is displayed on the LED screen by the speedometer, not the usual independent gauge) and the temperature showed that it was right in the middle, which should be working great. …”

NHTSA complaint #10535378, filed 2013-08, 79,885 miles

“As I was driving up the i5 going up the grapevine in ca at 65-70mph my vehicle made a beeping noise and dash showed thermometer that said slow down. I slowed down to 60mph and went into the left lane or (slow lane where semi trucks drive). All of a sudden the car started to slow down more and more until a semi truck got extremely close and had to veer into a faster lane because my car was only going 40mph. I found an exit and exited the freeway. I came to a stop, when it was my turn to go, my car would not accelerate. The car was on and it was in drive but would not move. …”

NHTSA complaint #10533969, filed 2013-08, 58,923 miles

“Slow down light comes on going 75 for about 30 minutes on highway. Then the car has a whining noise then loses acceleration and power steering while driving. This is very dangerous.”

NHTSA complaint #10734539, filed 2015-07, 90,000 miles

“Bought 2009 Lancer for daughter for school only had 70,000 miles on engine one owner car, paid 10,000 dollars 3 months later engine blew please do not buy car engine are bad.”

NHTSA complaint #10648303, filed 2014-10, 70,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2016310%
2015417%
201416%
2013240%
2012526%
2011824%
20101325%
20092222%
20081314%
200514%
200411%
200321%
200232%

Other parts of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

Electrical system
19 complaints
Brakes
16 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
14 complaints
Exterior lighting
13 complaints
Air bags
8 complaints
Body and structure
6 complaints
Suspension
6 complaints
Engine cooling
5 complaints
Other or unknown
5 complaints
Seat belts
5 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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