YearToAvoid

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 16 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer, 43% of all 37 complaints for this model year. That is the highest airbag complaint count among 13 Lancer model years. These complaints report 1 crash and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 100,000 miles.

Airbags complaints
16
43% of 37 complaints
All complaints this year
37
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
100,000 mi
Related recalls
3

When 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 22, 2007, latest Sep 11, 2019.

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2007Nov 2015Aug 2016Feb 2017Nov 2017Jun 2018Jun 2019
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2007 to Sep 2019; peak Aug 2016 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer

  1. NHTSA 18V220000Apr 5, 2018Airbags17,120 vehicles

    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. Also recalled are 2004-2006 Lancer vehicles located in Guam or Saipan that previously received or never received a new inflator under 15V321 or 17V569. These passenger side frontal air bag inflators may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to explode in the event of an air bag deployment.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    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. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-005.

  2. NHTSA 17V569000Sep 14, 2017Airbags66,001 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    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. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-17-001. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-321.

  3. NHTSA 16V334000May 23, 2016Airbags38,628 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured June 29, 2005, to June 19, 2007, equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-002.

Airbags complaints by Lancer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200510 (42%)
  2. 200616 (43%)
  3. 20071 (50%)
  4. 20087 (8%)
  5. 20098 (8%)
  6. 20102 (4%)
  7. 20112 (6%)
  8. 20121 (5%)
  9. 20131 (20%)
  10. 20145 (31%)
  11. 20155 (22%)
  12. 20161 (3%)
  13. 20173 (50%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 16 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer, 43% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 100,000 miles.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer has the most airbag complaints (16), compared with 16 for the 2006.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer concern the airbag: 18V220000, 17V569000, and 16V334000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.