There are 2 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while the vehicle was having a routine oil change at the dealer, the mechanic stated that rear crossmember bar was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was informed that the front crossmember bar needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 116,000. The consumer stated while the mechanic was attempting to change the front cross member started taking the front end apart, he said he had stripped a bolt on the catalytic converter. Also, the dealer charged the consumer for a new catalytic converter without permission. A new appointment was made on 12/14/2022 to fix the damages at their cost.
SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED AND CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE DEALER HAS SUGGESTED I TOW THE VEHICLE HOME, STATING I AM A POTHOLE AWAY FROM A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IT STRUCTURALLY FALLING APART. THIS IS A ISSUE THAT IS UNDER RECALL FOR UP TO 07 LANCERS THAT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE MINE AND OTHERS SINCE IT IS A ISSUE THEY CLEARLY FAILED TO ADDRESS IN LATER MODELS. VEHICLE HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OTHER PICTURES THAT SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE RUST.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026