This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Puerto Rico addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Mitsubishi Lancer airbags problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 10 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of Mitsubishi Lancer in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Texas addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Louisiana addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Ohio addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that MMNA is launching a social media campaign targeting vehicle owners with open Takata recalls.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy in significant crashes—one driver hit three deer at 65 mph, another lost control and hit a tree at 60 mph sustaining head injuries—yet the airbags never fired. At least one owner had the SRS warning light illuminate after a collision. A separate complaint came in with the SRS light on and a mechanic saying the airbag no longer works due to the recall.
The root cause points to Mitsubishi's NHTSA Campaign 15V321000 (airbag recall), but the fix itself became a major headache. Owners waiting for repairs faced multi-month backlogs. One customer was told in June to wait for parts and still had no appointment by August. Another was quoted 5 hours at a dealer 2 counties away that wouldn't do the work on Saturday. Parts simply weren't available at authorized dealers, and Mitsubishi couldn't give owners any estimated timeline.
Cost surprises added insult. One owner showed up for a free recall only to be charged a removal fee for aftermarket audio and alarm equipment—money the dealer and Mitsubishi insisted was the owner's responsibility. The recall letter said no cost, but fine print around aftermarket components wasn't disclosed upfront.
Same Mitsubishi Lancer airbags reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Airbags failed to deploy during collisions despite impact severity that caused vehicle damage and injury. SRS warning light illuminated after impact in at least one case, indicating system fault detection.
When: During crash events; mileages 70,000–80,000
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy during collision; SRS warning light illuminated after impact; Vehicle sustained severe damage indicating impact force sufficient to trigger deployment
Codes mentioned: SRS warning light
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V321000 (airbag recall) issued; parts shortages delayed repairs
SRS warning light / system fault
SRS warning lamp illuminated, indicating airbag system malfunction. Owners report being told airbag no longer works and replacement parts delayed by recall backlog.
When: Reported at unspecified mileage during vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light illuminated; Mechanic advised airbag inoperative
Codes mentioned: SRS warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement part over one month lead time due to recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V321000; parts availability issues
Recall parts availability and service delays
Mitsubishi airbag recall parts were unavailable or severely backordered, forcing customers to wait weeks or months. Dealers could not provide estimated repair dates or service appointments in timely manner; some dealers limited recalls to one vehicle per day.
When: Recall issued; delays ongoing through 2007–2015 period
Symptoms owners cite: Parts not in stock at authorized dealers; Multi-week to multi-month wait for parts; Dealers unable to provide repair timeline; One dealer processing only one recall per day
Repairs/costs cited: 5-hour repair time reported by one dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V321000 (airbag); manufacturer unable to estimate repair date or guarantee local dealer availability
Recall service accessibility and cost issues
Owners faced unreasonable recall service barriers: dealers charged fees for removing/reinstalling aftermarket components not covered by recall notice, nearest dealers located out-of-state or 50+ miles away with no Saturday service, and time burden of repair required days of lost work or travel.
When: During recall period (2015–2018)
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer charged unannounced fee for aftermarket alarm/stereo removal and reinstallation; Nearest dealer 2 counties away; local dealer out of business; Dealer refused Saturday service despite Saturday hours; Required 5-hour repair with 8–9 hours total time commitment; No loaner vehicle or mobile service offered
Repairs/costs cited: Mitsubishi hotline upheld dealer fee policy for aftermarket part handling
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall notice stated no-cost repairs but did not disclose aftermarket labor charges; Mitsubishi hotline confirmed customer responsible for aftermarket removal/reinstallation fees
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
The SRS light came on in my lancer. I have been told by the mechanic the part will take over a month to arrive as a result of a recall. I have been told that the air bag no longer works. *tr
Airbag defect
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi lancer. While driving 60 MPH, the contact lost control and the rear driver side of the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. She sustained head injuries and the vehicle was destroyed. As of september 24, 2007, the insurance company had not inspected the vehicle. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were…
I received a safety recall notice by mail from Mitsubishi motors sales of caribbean on june, I call to a dealership they told me that I have to wait my turn and to wait the inflator to be available, we are in august and still no notice, I call them today and they told me I have to wait my turn, I called to another dealership and they told me they are taking only one car daily and the list is…
Good day, I recently got a safety recall letter from Mitsubishi about a possible defect in my car's airbags that when deployed could cause metal fragments to impact my face and body and possibly cause death. The problem I'm having is, on the letter they stated that all the repairs would be at no-cost with no mention of aftermarket parts an extra fee I have to pay for. So I set up an…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v321000 (air bags); however, the parts needed were not available. The manufacturer expected the contact to schedule a repair at a dealer that was out of state and not a local authorized dealer which was unreasonable. The manufacturer was unable to provide an estimated date for when the…
I purchased a 2005 lancer and my decision for the purchase was because of the 4 air bags. I totaled the car and all four airbags did not deploy. The car was totaled on 6-3-07 with alot of damage to the undercarriage. Please explain why the airbags did not deploy. *ak
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle crashed into three deer. The headlights were destroyed, the front fell off of the vehicle, and the passenger side fender was pushed in. The air bags did not deploy but the SRS air bag warning light illuminated upon impact and had remained illuminated. The contact did not report…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 80,288 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Mitsubishi/Lancer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.