Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
20,389 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2002 model years. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting
1
50.0%
Steering behavior
1
50.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2005
1
2006
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2005
1
2006
1
2005: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
I PURCHASED MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER BRAND NEW. FROM DAY 1, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT SLIPS AND IT REVVS REALLY HIGH AND CAUSES MY CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN MANY, MANY TIMES TO BE FIXED. AS I AM WRITING THIS, MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR, I SHOULD BE DRIVING IT AND ENJOYING IT, NOT CONSTANTLY GOING WITHOUT MY CAR BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS IN THE SHOP. I TOLD THEM, THAT I WANTED A NEW TRANSMISSION, OR A NEW CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. WHAT DO I DO? I…
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
100.0%Usable mileage2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2002
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
150.0%ODI 10142611 · 39,778 mi
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB
I PURCHASED MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER BRAND NEW. FROM DAY 1, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT SLIPS AND IT REVVS REALLY HIGH AND CAUSES MY CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN MANY, MANY TIMES TO BE FIXED. AS I AM WRITING THIS, MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR, I SHOULD BE DRIVING IT AND ENJOYING IT, NOT CONSTANTLY GOING WITHOUT MY CAR BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS IN THE SHOP. I TOLD THEM, THAT I WANTED A NEW TRANSMISSION, OR A NEW CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. WHAT DO I DO? I…
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Too few reports for a range
39,778 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10142611 · 39,778 mi
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB
I PURCHASED MY 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER BRAND NEW. FROM DAY 1, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT SLIPS AND IT REVVS REALLY HIGH AND CAUSES MY CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN MANY, MANY TIMES TO BE FIXED. AS I AM WRITING THIS, MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR, I SHOULD BE DRIVING IT AND ENJOYING IT, NOT CONSTANTLY GOING WITHOUT MY CAR BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS IN THE SHOP. I TOLD THEM, THAT I WANTED A NEW TRANSMISSION, OR A NEW CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. WHAT DO I DO? I…
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2002: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2002
0
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2002
2
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
—
0
1ODI 10142611 · 39,778 mi
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Steering assistance concerns
1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 39,778 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10142611 · 39,778 mi
THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING BELT POPPED AND THE CAR HAS 7000 TO 1000 IN DAMAGE AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOT EVEN 12000 MILES. THIS CAR IS COSTING ME 18000 ON TOP OF THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANY BLAME FOR THIS MISHAP, AND I THINK THEY ARE COVERING THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE IT TAKES THEM A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO ME WHEN THEY DO RETURN MY CALLS. *JB