2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 14%of 98 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, 14% of the 98 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“Shortly after starting the engine; take a turn left and then made; I turn on the ABS light shortly after engine light lit too and, days later, the ABS light went out. The next day I started the engine; running the car at 15 to 35 miles, sounds a hit; in the transmission and ABS light comes on again. This has been doing so far.”
NHTSA complaint #10651258, filed 2014-10, 65,000 miles“2009 Lancer, clutch went out at under 20,000 miles. I have been reading of many clutch problems in past models, is there a trend here. I have owed 15 cars, half have been manual transmission. I have only had to replace 2 clutches: Mitsubishi 3000 gt at 40,000 and the Lancer at 18,000. I have a 10 year old jeep wrangler manual that my kids learned to drive on with about 70,000 miles with it's original clutch.”
NHTSA complaint #10277407, filed 2009-07, 18,000 miles“I purchased my vehicle in 2009 from the Mitsubishi dealership in ga, brand new. I travel often and long distances so I have accumulated a lot of mileage on my vehicle within a short period of time. I maintain the vehicle with all the proper inspections and services and the suggestion times (oil change every 3k miles, brakes and tires at 50k,...). I began having issues with my transmission in august 2012 with this whining noise everytime I accelerated. My service engine soon light came on shortly after the noise started. …”
NHTSA complaint #10503938, filed 2013-03, 81,000 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 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10240446Jul 21, 2023This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the transaxle assembly removal and installation of the roll stopper bracket.
- 10091780Jul 8, 2016This is a technical service bulletin, sent to dealers, to supercede tsb−14−22−002, issued july, 2014, to revise specific steps for selecting reprogramming data…
- 10098878Feb 12, 2016This technical service bulletin, provided to dealers, provides instructions to remove the transmission and replace two primary pulley shaft bearings and one secondary pulley…
- 10170074Aug 28, 2015This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170071Jul 22, 2015This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10098881Feb 12, 2015This technical service bulletin, provided to dealers, adds procedures for disassembly, assembly and cleaning transmission components.
- 10098877Feb 3, 2015This technical service bulletin, provided to dealers, corrects the hydraulic pressure settings and updates the special tools used in the cvt hydraulic pressure test in the…
- 10170106Sep 10, 2013This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170104Aug 8, 2013This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170096Mar 5, 2013This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 33% |
| 2016 | 21 | 70% |
| 2015 | 5 | 22% |
| 2014 | 6 | 38% |
| 2013 | 2 | 40% |
| 2012 | 6 | 32% |
| 2011 | 6 | 18% |
| 2010 | 4 | 8% |
| 2009 | 14 | 14% |
| 2008 | 11 | 12% |
| 2006 | 1 | 3% |
| 2005 | 1 | 4% |
| 2004 | 7 | 9% |
| 2003 | 51 | 26% |
| 2002 | 22 | 15% |
Other parts of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
22 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsVisibility (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 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