FORCAR
Go Pro

Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack VIN Check

NHTSA holds 10 owner complaints on the Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack from 8 production runs; the worst run has 2, the typical one 1.3.

NHTSA complaint records · 10 complaints · 8 runs · 2004–2013 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Lancer SportBack run is JA3AD29FX4U (2004 builds) with 2 complaints, 1.5× the typical run. Electrical system problems make up 27% of reports; 2004 is the worst model year at 1.5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for Lancer SportBack model years 2009–2012.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack has 8 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 70% of every Lancer SportBack complaint on file.

FIG.01·Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
JA3AD29FX4U••••••20042——
JA3AD29F94U••••••20042——
JA3AD29F74U••••••20041——
JA3AD69F54U••••••20041——
JA32X8HW9AU••••••20101——
JA32V2FW8DU••••••20131——
JA32X2HUXDU••••••20131——
JA32X2HU9DU••••••20131——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack the gap between build years is 1.5×: a 2004 car draws 1.5 complaints per run, a 2013 one 1.

FIG.02·Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
2013133—
20041.564—
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2004 at 1.5 complaints per run; lightest is 2013 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 27% of everything Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack owners report: Electrical System, 4 of 10 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Electrical System4——
Unknown Or Other4——
Visibility2——
Engine And Engine Cooling1——
Vehicle Speed Control1——
Visibility/wiper1——
Structure1——
Power Train1——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 6 recall campaigns on the Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack; the 6 below cover build years 2009 to 2012. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
18V069000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys2010–2012
14V562000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys2009–2011
15V233000Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:fan/motor2010–2011
20V279000Structure:frame And Members2009–2010
18V071000Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly2010
15V232000Electrical System2010
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

18V069000 was opened in 2018 on cars built from 2010: 8 years on the road before the recall.

How serious were they

FIG.06·Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack — complaint severity
OutcomeMitsubishi Lancer SportBackAll vehicles
Complaints filed101,116,631
Involved a crash0 (0%)64,221 (5.8%)
Involved a fire0 (0%)26,977 (2.4%)
Injuries reported058,047
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 100% below the all-vehicle rate.

Upgrade to Pro

You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.

  • Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • Decode a whole list of VINs at once
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed

How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack share of that is 10 complaints over 8 runs, 0% of everything on record.

Everything on the Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack
Recalls15 campaignsFuel economy27 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems27 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space25 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2004–2017

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Mitsubishi Lancer SportBack VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 10 NHTSA complaints from 8 Lancer SportBack runs and 6 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Lancer SportBack production run has the most complaints?

JA3AD29FX4U, a 2004 build, with 2 complaints. The typical Lancer SportBack run has 1.3.

Which Lancer SportBack years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2004 is heaviest at 1.5 complaints per run and 2013 lightest at 1.

How many Lancer SportBack complaints involve a crash?

0% of 10 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 0 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →