Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2006-MITSUBISHI-LANCER
2006 · Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Lancer problems

2 safety recalls. 37 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

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

Top trouble spots 4 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
13 reports · avg $1,100
severe
suspension
9 reports · avg $900
moderate
body
3 reports · avg $1,500
moderate
lighting
3 reports · avg $250
moderate

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 · NHTSA ODI #11282915.0
2006 Lancer · other Crash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD WITH THE ACTIVE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGED, UPON ENTERING ONTO A PAVED ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND CRASHED INTO NEARBY PARKED FARMING EQUIPMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO…
11/27/2006 · NHTSA ODI #10174429.0
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 · NHTSA ODI #11043900.0
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 · NHTSA ODI #10788684.0

Estimate your repair exposure

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

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 2 of 2

critical NHTSA 17V569000 14/09/2017

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 05/04/2018

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.

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. 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. 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 aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. 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.
Get a free warranty quote →