Mitsubishi Lancer Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 137 of the 458 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2017 Mitsubishi Lancer (29.9%) name the transmission, 2.4× the median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2009, 2010 and 2016.
Transmission complaints
137
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2017 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
29.9%
of 458 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Mitsubishi Lancer transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 11 | 12.1% | 0 | — | 14 |
| 2009WORST | 31 | 25.6% | 1 | — | 15 |
| 2010WORST | 28 | 32.9% | 1 | — | 14 |
| 2011 | 16 | 32.7% | 0 | — | 18 |
| 2012 | 10 | 43.5% | 2 | — | 12 |
| 2013 | 2 | 40% | 0 | — | 10 |
| 2014 | 9 | 39.1% | 2 | — | 12 |
| 2015 | 8 | 30.8% | 0 | — | 10 |
| 2016WORST | 20 | 69% | 0 | 16V563000 | 16 |
| 2017 | 2 | 33.3% | 0 | — | 15 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Mitsubishi Lancer transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 137 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Mitsubishi Lancer years to avoid for the transmission
2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
31 transmission complaints (25.6% of the year's 121). Most often described: slipping or revving without accelerating.
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer
28 transmission complaints (32.9% of the year's 85). Most often described: slipping or revving without accelerating.
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer
20 transmission complaints (69% of the year's 29). Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement. Covered by transmission recall 16V563000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Mitsubishi Lancer years to avoid.
Mitsubishi Lancer transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Mitsubishi Lancer model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 16V563000 · 2016-07-28 · 2016 models
The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in certain driving conditions, may cause a delay in the vehicle accelerating.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 31 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, 25.6% of all 121 complaints for that year. The most common description is "slipping or revving without accelerating" (3 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 28 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer, 32.9% of all 85 complaints for that year. The most common description is "slipping or revving without accelerating" (3 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 20 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer, 69% of all 29 complaints for that year. The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (11 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 16V563000.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer years have the most transmission complaints?
2009 (31), 2010 (28) and 2016 (20), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Mitsubishi Lancer transmission problems?
In the 137 transmission complaints, owners most often describe hesitation or delayed engagement (15.3%), slipping or revving without accelerating (10.9%) and loss of power or limp mode (10.2%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Mitsubishi Lancer model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration