This TSB provides revisions to the Removal and Installation procedures for the rocker cover due to changes in the quantity of mounting bolts for vehicles equipped with 4B1 series engine. (Service Manual Revision)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Mitsubishi Lancer engine problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 21 engine complaints filed for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 5 model years of Mitsubishi Lancer in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA engine 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 engine 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 provides additional instructions to dealers when replacing the Valve Cover Gasket due to a customer concern of oil leaking.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing that a recall campaign was released on July 22, 2020 (SR-20-003) for the Crossmember Corrosion.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Advanced Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing them of the upcoming recall being released for the inside and outside surfaces of the front cross members used on certain vehicles, if exposed long term to snow melt water and anti-freezing agents, may corrode due to insufficient performance of the rust protection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This Bulletin updates the Intake and Exhaust section of the affected Service Manuals, to correct the exhaust manifold and turbocharger assembly removal and installation procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Raw fuel smell is the most distinctive complaint—one RalliArt owner on a hot-weather highway drive reported overwhelming gasoline odor pouring through the vents, bad enough to make the driver lightheaded and force a stop. It happened 2-3 times that summer. Another owner experienced a sudden loss of acceleration and power steering on the highway after a check engine light came on, with a whining noise from the engine—described as dangerous.
One owner's 70,000-mile engine failed outright three months after buying the car used. A drive belt system failure caused a stall and tow, and the A/C compressor stopped working at the same time, suggesting linked failures.
The bigger issue is recall 14V562000 (engine and engine cooling): at least 14 owners received the notice but couldn't get the repair done because Mitsubishi couldn't supply parts for months or longer. Dealers and the factory couldn't say when parts would arrive. Some owners waited over a year with no resolution. One owner's sunroof and drive belt recall from April 2018 still wasn't finished more than a year later due to parts delay.
Same Mitsubishi Lancer engine reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Raw fuel odor in cabin
Strong raw gasoline smell entering vehicle interior through vents during highway driving in hot conditions. Smell persisted even with air conditioning off and recirculation mode engaged. Lasted approximately 5 minutes and caused dizziness and headaches in passengers.
When: Hot weather conditions (99°F); occurred 2-3 times over summer periods
Symptoms owners cite: Strong raw fuel/gasoline smell in cabin; Smell entering through vents; Persistent odor despite A/C adjustments; Dizziness and lightheadedness in driver; Headache in passenger
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner referenced Evolution forum thread suggesting this is a known issue affecting multiple RalliArt owners
Engine warning light with no diagnosis
Check engine light illuminated while driving at unknown speed. Vehicle received recall notification 14V562000 (engine) but parts were unavailable, preventing diagnosis or repair.
When: At 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired due to parts unavailability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) issued but parts not available
Abnormal engine noise
Abnormal noise coming from engine while driving at 30 mph. Failure recurred several times but vehicle was never diagnosed or repaired due to recall parts being unavailable.
When: At approximately 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from engine; Noise occurred repeatedly while driving at 30 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) parts unavailable
Power loss and steering failure during highway driving
Check engine light illuminated on highway. Vehicle developed whining noise from engine, then lost acceleration and power steering while driving at 75 mph for approximately 30 minutes. Owner notes this is a dangerous condition.
When: During highway operation
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Whining noise from engine; Loss of acceleration; Loss of power steering
Engine failure
Engine failed catastrophically with 70,000 miles on three-year-old vehicle purchased used. Owner reports engine 'blew' and characterizes 2009 Lancer engines as defective.
When: At 70,000 miles; failure occurred 3 months after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine failure
Drive belt system failure with recall delay
Drive belt system failed, causing vehicle stall and requiring towing. Recall 14V562000 was issued for this exact problem, but parts were not available for months or longer, preventing repair completion. A/C compressor also stopped working, reportedly related to drive belt function.
When: Parts ordered April 2018; parts still unavailable one year later
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stall requiring tow; A/C compressor failure; Drive belt system malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Drive belt replacement needed; A/C compressor related to drive belt system
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) issued; parts unavailable for extended period (at least 12 months from April 2018)
Recall parts availability failure
Multiple owners received recall notification for NHTSA Campaign 14V562000 (ENGINE and ENGINE COOLING) but were unable to complete repairs for months to over a year because required parts were not in stock. Dealers and manufacturer could not provide estimated delivery dates. This delay prevented resolution of both actual failures and preventive recall work.
When: Recall issued October 2014; parts still unavailable in 2016 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts unavailable; No estimated delivery dates from manufacturer; Extended waiting periods without parts
Repairs/costs cited: Parts needed for recall repair unavailable; specific part not identified in complaints
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); manufacturer unable to provide parts availability timeline
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 14v562000 (engine and engine cooling) and stated that the part was not available. The dealer stated that they were uncertain when the part would become available to service the vehicle under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the delay. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v562000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v562000 (engine) however, the part needed to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The VIN was not available. The contact had not…
2009 Mitsubishi lancer. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle drive belt system issues. *smd the consumer stated a recall was issued for the exact problem he experienced. The vehicle stalled and had to be towed. Recall # 14v562000. *jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign id number: 14v562000 (engine and engine cooling) and stated that the parts needed were not available for months. The dealer was unable to provide a specific date when the parts would become available. The manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi lancer. While driving at an unknown speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v562000 (engine). The dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment. The dealer advised the contact that the part would not be available until january of 2016. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v562000 (engine). However, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign id number: 14v562000 (engine) and stated that the part was not available. The dealer provided a tentative date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not…
Had engine trouble with your 2009 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 engine problem on the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 21 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 63,000 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2009/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.