The 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Heater/A/C temperature control knob breakage.” Mitsubishi publishes short, conservative intervals: oil every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe, and — unlike many rivals — an explicit CVT fluid replacement schedule rather than a 'lifetime fill' claim. Read the severe-service column honestly: stop-and-go city trips, short hops, and hot climates all qualify, and they describe how most Mirages actually live. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty stays intact only with documented on-schedule service.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer.
VISIBILITY
23 NHTSA complaints · 2007-01 → 2014-03
“MY 2002 LANCERS TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB BROKE THIS MORNING WHILE I WAS TRYING TO ENGAGE THE HEAT PORTION OF THE TEMPERATURE GAGE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD”
“VARIABLE TEMPERATURE KNOB/SHAFT BROKE ON HEATER/A/C CONTROL MODULE BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO TURN”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB HAD BROKEN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE HEAT OR DEFROST OPTION AS A RESULT”
POWER TRAIN
11 NHTSA complaints · 2004-10 → 2016-09
“MY SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED DUE TO LEAKAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. AS I WAS DRIVING UPHILL AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL JUST WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR GOT STUCK IN NEUTRAL”
“CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER WENT BAD I WAS STOCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEARS”
“PUSHED IN CLUTCH PEDAL, HEARD A LOUD POP, AND CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE”
SUSPENSION
8 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2020-04
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) IN AUGUST”
“THE VEHICLE RATTLES IN THE FRONT END, EXACTLY WHERE THE RECALLED PART IS AT”
“FRONT LOWER ENGINE SUPPORT & CRADLE ARE RUSTED OUT ALONG WITH THE CROSS MEMBER”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
7 NHTSA complaints · 2003-04 → 2006-10
“CAR SHAKES WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES. CONSTANT ROTOR PROBLEM . ROTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS”
“THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 15000 AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 32000 MILES”
“I HAD A 2002 MITS LANCER PURCHASE ON NOVEMBER 2001 HAS ONLY 14.800 MILES AND MY FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE GONE”
AIR BAGS
24 NHTSA complaints · 2002-06 → 2017-05
“CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR HEAD-ON COLLISION INTO A DITCH. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED”
“VEHICLE 'T-BONED' A TAXI CAUSING EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
“WHILE DRIVING 33 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
STEERING
6 NHTSA complaints · 2002-05 → 2015-07
“MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COLLAPSED IN MY LAP WHILE DRIVING”
“WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED. CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE”
“WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
11 NHTSA complaints · 2002-12 → 2014-08
“THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV; AND VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. DURING BRAKING THERE WAS DIFFICULTY TO STOP THE VEHICLE”
“WHILE APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN CONSUMER HAD TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND SHUT THE IGNITION OFF”
“THE ENGINE REVVED, AND THEN EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7 NHTSA complaints · 2005-08 → 2021-02
“DEFECTIVE CAT. RECALL IS STILL OPEN BUT MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM”
“CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FUEL BURNING IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CURRENTLY THROWING P0421 CODE”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE RECALL REPAIR PERTAINING TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe. Mirage's 1.2L three-cylinder holds barely over 3 quarts — small sumps punish stretched intervals. 0W-20 on most recent models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Mitsubishi schedules CVT fluid replacement — commonly every 60,000 miles normal / 30,000 severe (check your year's table). Use only the specified CVT fluid (J4/CVTF-J4 family); generic ATF destroys the belt-and-pulley unit.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Rotate with every oil change. Light Mirages are easy on tires but the economy-focused OEM rubber wears fast when neglected.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads, rotors/drums, and lines at each service — Mirage G4 retains rear drums, which need periodic adjustment checks.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace every 2-3 years per the schedule. Cheap job, big ABS-unit insurance.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Iridium plugs commonly every 60,000 miles on the Mirage's 3A92 and Lancer's 4B11 — verify your year's table, as some engines list up to 105,000.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Mitsubishi's schedule replaces the engine air filter every 15,000 miles — shorter than most brands, and a 5-minute DIY on the Mirage.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on cracking. The Mirage's single serpentine belt also drives the A/C — a failure strands the car's accessories at once.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace every 15,000 miles, behind the glovebox. Often skipped at quick-lube visits — worth checking if airflow feels weak.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
First change around 60,000 miles, then roughly every 30,000-45,000 per the schedule. Mitsubishi long-life coolant or equivalent OAT for your year.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test annually after year 3. Small-battery economy cars have little reserve — the first cold snap finds a weak one.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
147 crashes 1990–2024
How the 147 occupant deaths break down
85
driver deaths
62
passenger deaths
147
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2002 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
33
complaints mentioning a crash
1
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer reflects Mitsubishi's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.