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2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering relay. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “CVT hesitation and overheating.” 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.

1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

Campaign #17V609000 · Sep 29, 2017

Issue: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. These vehicles may have defective relays that can result in an engine stall, reduced engine power or the engine overheating.

Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.

Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected relays, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-005.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer.

Reported to NHTSA

CVT hesitation and overheating

POWER TRAIN

2 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2017-08

“CVT TRANSMISSION; VEHICLE HAS 45K MILES, NO RECALL WAS RECORDED FOR MY VIN BUT I CLEARLY EXPERIENCE THE STATED SYMPTOMS OF THE COMMUNICATION LOSS BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A BRIEF "HESITATION " FAILURE TO MOVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11019040
“THE VEHICLE "STUMBLES" DURING ACCELERATION AFTER COMPLETE STOP OR AFTER MAKING A LOW SPEED TURN. THE ISSUE HAS NO SYSTEMATIC REGULARITY AND WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS, TYPE AND ORIGIN OF GASOLINE, OR ANY COMMON ROAD CONDITIONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10967089

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Bluetooth phone connection drops

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2016-08

“I DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT UNTIL IT HAPPENED EVERY SINGLE TIME I TRIED TO TALK WITH MY BLUETOOTH ON. EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT I HAVE MY IPHONE 6S PLUS CONNECTED TO MY BLUETOOTH ON MY 15 LANCER, IT ALWAYS DISCONNECTS AND THEN RECONNECTS IN A FEW SECONDS OR RIGHT UNDER A MINUTE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10898066
“THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE BLUETOOTH CONNECTION WITH THE CAR AND ANY CELL PHONE I TRY TO HAVE CONNECTED WITH THE CAR. MITSUBISHI TOLD ME IT WAS THE CELL PHONES FAULT NOT THE CAR. SO I WENT AND BOUGHT AN IPHONE 6S AND GOT RID OF MY GALAXY S5”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10885409

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear subframe corrosion

STRUCTURE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2023-05 → 2023-09

“I was working on my 2015 Mitsubishi this weekend when i noticed how bad the rear subframe is rusted away. It actually has a crack along it from rusting. I do know there was a recall on the from crossmember for the same exact reason”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11544052
“The rear crossmember subframe is rusted out very badly, and has all the rear axel and components attached to it. This is very unacceptable for car that cost nearly 40 grand”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11519910

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Clutch and transmission failure at low mileage

POWER TRAIN

3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-09 → 2022-05

“CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN JUST UNDER 6 MONTHS WITH NO ABUSE AND WITH JUST AT 10,000 MILES THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CLAIM WEAR ITEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11043027
“Without any prior warning lights or issues with the car. While i drove to work, about 10-15 miles away or 20 min drive, i came to a stop at a red light and when it turned green the car could not get into 2nd gear and would juts rev mostly in place”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11464431

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbags fail to deploy in crash

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2016-10 → 2018-07

“'TAKATA RECALL' I RAN INTO A TREE AT 55MPH AND HIT A TREE. WHEN I HIT THE TREE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11112813
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TURNED 360 DEGREES AND CRASHED INTO A LAMP POST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10915895

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalls without warning while driving

ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2016-06 → 2022-06

“WHEN YOU GO TO YOU PRESS ON THE GAS IT STARTS TO STALL OUT. THIS STARTED 24 HOURS AFTER I DRIVE OFF FROM USED CAR LOT. AND UPON FURTHER REVIEW, IT DID HAVE A RECALL AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11258649
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH A HALF TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10874897

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

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.

CVT Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Engine Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

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.

Drive Belt

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

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.

Coolant Replacement

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

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.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

26 crashes 2010–2024

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

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.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

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 2015 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.

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