2006 Mitsubishi Lancer — 2.0L

The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer sits near the end of a generation that peaked in complaints and recalls during 2002–2003, when the model recorded 311 complaints and 7 recalls in 2003 alone. By 2006, complaints had dropped to 37—a significant improvement from the early years—but the recall count remained elevated at 7, matching the 2003 and 2004 totals. This suggests that while owner-reported issues declined, the vehicle still carried a high number of safety-related campaigns, with air bags being the top complaint area (11 reports) and 5 crash complaints noted. The trend across the generation shows a sharp spike in complaints in 2002–2003, followed by a steady decline through 2005–2006, then a resurgence in 2008–2010, indicating that 2006 falls in a relatively quiet but still recall-heavy period. Without root causes specified in the data, it is unclear whether the recalls addressed the same problems that plagued earlier years. Overall, the 2006 Lancer is a middling choice: fewer owner complaints than the worst years, but the high recall count and air bag concerns make it a riskier buy than later, lower-recall model years like 2007 or 2012.