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Light NHTSA footprint — 19 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer has 19 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 5 complaints, typically surfacing around 80,839 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Lancer | 121 | 8 |
| 2010 Lancer | 85 | 6 |
| 2011 Lancer | 49 | 3 |
| 2012 Lancer (this page) | 19 | 1 |
| 2013 Lancer | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 Lancer | 23 | 0 |
| 2015 Lancer | 26 | 1 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
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.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 5 HB AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 72,910 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
El carro cuando va subiendo cuesta largas no accelera se queda sin fuerza y dice que baje la velocidad si el solo lo baja y no permite acceleral y el motor tiene un ruido queno es normal ni lo hacia antes
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and making a turn, a squeaking noise emitted from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer six times for the same malfunction. The technician was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact stated that when the accelerator was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled with no warnings. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the mechanic stated that the central computer needed to be replaced.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Mitsubishi lancer. While driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, there was a hesitation before the vehicle responded. The vehicle did not stall. Additionally, there was a rattling sound underneath the vehicle in…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 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.
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 5 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 80,839 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 19 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 80,839 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 5 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 80,839 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 80,839 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
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.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 19 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, 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.