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ProblemsByVin File / 2006-MITSUBISHI-LANCER NHTSA data synced 4 days ago
2006 · Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Lancer problems

2 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 37 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.0 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

2
Critical
0
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2006 Lancer?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Top trouble spots 4 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
13 reports · fails ~97,033 mi · avg $1,100
severe
suspension
9 reports · fails ~130,138 mi · avg $900
moderate
body
3 reports · fails ~147,500 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
lighting
3 reports · avg $250
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2006 Lancer's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2006 Lancer?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2006 Lancer · visibility
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that he was unable to use the defroster, which prevented him from seeing out the window. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to auto gallery Mitsubishi-corona (located at 2550…
11/29/2019 · at 143,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11282915.0
2006 Lancer · airbags
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…
11/06/2017 · at 120,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11043900.0 · see airbags pattern →
2006 Lancer · airbags
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mitshubishi lancer. The contact stated that the air bag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer notified the contact that the vehicle's production date,…
11/05/2015 · at 85,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10788684.0 · see airbags pattern →
2006 Lancer · airbags
I attempted to have the Mitsubishi dealer repair the recalled airbags. They cancelled the appointment I had scheduled (without calling me). I asked them if I could reschedule - they advised they didn't have the parts necessary to complete the work, so they were unwilling to…
10/27/2017 · NHTSA ODI #11040572.0 · see airbags pattern →
View all 37 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

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At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
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Active recalls showing 2 of 2

critical NHTSA 17V569000 September 14, 2017

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-17-001. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-321.
critical NHTSA 18V220000 April 5, 2018

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-005.

Common questions

Is the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer?

The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 13 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 97,033 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 97,033 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Mitsubishi Lancer has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 37 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Other model years
2010 Lancer2009 Lancer2008 Lancer2007 Lancer2005 Lancer
Compare against
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Problem categories across the fleet
airbags across all vehicles suspension across all vehicles body across all vehicles lighting across all vehicles
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Mitsubishi/Lancer. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Mitsubishi. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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