The Lemon IndexAll cars · Mitsubishi Lancer · 2012
2012 Mitsubishi Lancer. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 4,000 and 24,830 miles. Median 16,816, from 8 complaints with a mileage.
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Transmission & drivetrain | 38% |
| Fuel system | 12% |
| Engine | 12% |
| Steering | 12% |
| Speed control | 12% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 1
18V069000 Jan 2018 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine / Gasoline / Belts And Associated Pulleys
Defect. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.
Risk. If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-001.
Manufacturer communications 106
Mitsubishi filed 106 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- If lower quality fuel is used, vehicles would have engine stalling or rough idle condition at low
- This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers
- This is a Technical Service Bulletin that was sent to dealers
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 5 HB AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 4 DR AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
Engines and drivetrains 7
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 24 / 33 / 28 | Regular | $2,200 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Auto (AV-S6) | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 | Regular | $2,200 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM6) | AWD | 18 / 25 / 20 | Premium | $3,850 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 | Premium | $4,050 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Auto (AV-S6) | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 | Regular | $2,400 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 | Regular | $2,500 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Auto (AV-S6) | AWD | 22 / 28 / 25 | Regular | $2,500 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
YouTube repair topics
200 videos about the 2008–2017 Mitsubishi Lancer, 37.4M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 3 | 708K |
| Intake, EGR & engine sensors | 5 | 284K |
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 4 | 260K |
| Transmission & shifter | 3 | 253K |
| Cooling system | 2 | 137K |
| No-start: theft light, key & ignition | 1 | 77K |
| Brakes & ABS | 1 | 45K |
| Fuel pump, filter & tank | 1 | 41K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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