2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System Problems

NHTSA component category: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM · data through 07/12/2026

28Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System complaints

14.1%Of all 199 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system ranks on this vehicle

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM28 · 14.1%

VISIBILITY28 · 14.1%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION19 · 9.5%

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY17 · 8.5%

Unspecified / other16 · 8%

Share of the 199 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer overview page.

What owners report

“THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE FOR US BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAS MS AND IS SENSITIVE TO HEAT ESPECIALLY, BUT ALSO CAN BE SENSITIVE TO COLD…”NHTSA complaint 10313826 — filed 02/24/2010

“CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB BROKE OFF ON MITSUBISHI ,FOUND TO HAPPEN ON LOTS OF THESE CARS, CANT DEFROST WINDOW. CANT SEE. SAFETY HAZARD?”NHTSA complaint 10295371 — filed 12/11/2009

“IN THE 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER ES THE CLIMATE CONTROL SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE HEAT/COLD IS FAULTY. THE SWITCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD TO TURN AND…”NHTSA complaint 10289366 — filed 10/22/2009

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer have visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system problems?

Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System is the most-reported problem area on the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer: 28 of 199 complaints on file (14.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer have in total?

199 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.