2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Visibility Problems

NHTSA component category: VISIBILITY · data through 07/12/2026

28Visibility complaints

14.1%Of all 199 complaints

#2Most-reported category

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

How visibility 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

“THE TEMPERATURE KNOB WILL NOT TURN FROM COOL TO HEAT RESULTING IN THE FAILURE TO HEAT THE WINDSHIELD. IN TURN, ANY FROST, ICE, OR FOG…”NHTSA complaint 10311274 — filed 02/17/2010

“SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING; BUT TOLD THAT THE KNOBS ARE A LITTLE HARD TO TURN AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM…”NHTSA complaint 10307811 — filed 02/09/2010

“2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER. TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. I CAN'T TURN THE HEAT ON. WHEN I TURN THE KNOB FROM COLD TO HOT THERE…”NHTSA complaint 10296462 — filed 12/19/2009

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

Visibility complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer have visibility problems?

Visibility is the #2 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 category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the VISIBILITY 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.