NHTSA Complaint #10262399 — 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER

THE AIR/HEATING UNIT BUTTON ON THE DASH BROKE OFF COMPLETELY. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE KNOB TO HEAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN IT TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY SAID THAT THEY'VE HAD MANY CAR OWNERS BUYING THE UNIT BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 LANCER. THE UNIT ITSELF IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUY AT A COST OF $379.00. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE LABOR. THE LABOR WAS QUOTED AT $549.00, BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD/ TRIM OUT AND OFF TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I JUST REPLACED THE UNIT AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR WILL JERK AND HESTITATE AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE GEARS WILL SHIFT AND I WILL LOSE MOMENTUM WHILE DRIVING. YOU CAN HEAR A REVVING SOUND LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO GO OUT. THESE ARE JUST A FEW PROBLEMS - I HAVEN'T MENTION THAT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR CONDITION UNIT BECAUSE OF THE CONDENSATION LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD CAUSING IT TO FILL WITH WATER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACE THE UNIT WITH A NEW ONE. *TR