Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata recall my local Mitsubishi dealer, cutter Mitsubishi (https://www.cuttermitsubishi.com) has refused to fix the recall. I have telephoned more than five times, leaving detailed messages, including both the air bag recall and not including the air bag recall. They have never responded to one telephone call, and they never answer the phone. I have gone to their website and left a dozen requests for service noting I need the air bag recall fixed, and they have never, not once, replied to any requests. They should be forced to fix my airbag before it kills me and they should be punished with a significant monetary penalty for endangering my life and everyone else's life who can't get it fixed.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. While the contact was driving out of her driveway the vehicles front passenger side airbag deployed without warning filling the inside of the vehicle with white smoke. Due to the deployment of the airbag which blocked the vision of the contact the vehicle crashed into a nearby utility pole. The contact suffered injuries to her face and body . A police report was filed for the incident. The contact called the manufacturer and a report was filed for the failure. The current and failure mileages were 36400.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer wagon. The contact stated that the SRS air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer were it was diagnosed that the passenger side air bag inflator was defective and needed to be replaced. Prior to the failure, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V321000 (air bags). The failure mileage was approximately 83,000. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in a recall regarding the air bags and repaired. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The recall information was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 169,942.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mitsubushi Lancer. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 15V321000 (air bags), but the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated after the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Takata recall. Had original airbag replaced 2 yrs ago. Received a letter from Mitsubishi stating I needed to have it done again. I called customer service for Mitsubishi when I learned they no longer have a Mitsubishi dealership locally. I was advised at that time that the nearest dealership , in either direction, was 4-5 hours from where I live. I was advised that I needed to call all the mechanics in the area to find one that is certified by Mitsubishi! If I could find one and they were Mitsubishi certified, the work would be done and Mitsubishi would pay for it. However, they need to have current certification. I have called a few dealerships in the area, but no one has a certification for Mitsubishi. I didn't install the bad airbags. I would have to travel to either of these dealerships, spend the night in a motel, wait for the appointment and work to be done, and drive home. …
I am an owner of two Mitsubishi cars; one bought new at a mits. Dealer in tucson, az 11 years ago and the other bought just a couple of months ago at a used car lot in tucson, az. Yesterday, I received an 'important safety recall' notice for both cars via mail. It's recommended to take care of the recall of the passenger air bag, that is described as causing serious injury or death. Yet, there is currently no local dealer where I live. Therefore, I called the phone number listed on the notice to address my concern. I was told I'd have to travel to another city over 80 miles one way to have this remedied. This would be much too inconvenient, unlike the promised 'every effort to minimize inconvenience' the notice reference. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that the SRS indicator illuminated and the horn did not work. The vehicle was taken to big two Mitsubishi (6222 auto park dr., mesa, az 85206, [phone]) where the contact was informed that diagnostic testing would need to be performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed due to the cost. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V220000 (air bags) and believed the diagnostic test should be covered under the recall. The manufacturer was notified and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was not provided. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V569000 (air bags). The contact stated that the Mitsubishi dealer was over 100 miles away and a recall repair appointment could not be scheduled. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that they could repair the vehicle if the local repair shop had the tools to complete the remedy. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V321000 (air bags) and was unable to schedule a repair with a dealer in a reasonable location. The contact indicated that the dealer was more than 150 miles away. The contact was waiting for a response from the manufacturer to determine if they could provide a closer location to schedule the repair. In addition, the contact was uncertain as to when the manufacturer would supply the parts to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles that previously received a like-for-like passenger side frontal air bag inflator under recall 15V321 as interim remedy.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Lancer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer, 25% of the model year's 83 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-220 (inflator module, Apr 5, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-569 (inflator module, Sep 14, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.