2012 mitsubishi lancer problems Page 2

The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer is a tough little commuter, but it’s not carved from adamantium. Most gripes revolve around age, Aussie sun, and a CVT that occasionally throws a tantrum. Here are the usual suspects owners report:

• CVT judder/whine, hesitation or overheating on long climbs; fluid neglect accelerates wear and big fixes aren’t cheap.
• Front lower control arm bushes splitting, causing clunks and inner tyre wear.
• Engine and transmission mounts collapsing, leading to vibration at idle and harshness on take-off.
• Air-conditioning compressor or clutch failure, weak cooling in summer.
• Strut top mounts and sway-bar links knocking over bumps.
• Hands-free/Bluetooth module failures and parasitic battery drain.
• Clear-coat/paint fade or peel on sunbaked cars.
• Ralliart models: twin-clutch SST needs correct fluid and servicing; neglect gets expensive.

On a test drive, get it fully warm and provoke the CVT with stop–start traffic and a hill; any shudder or flare is a red flag. Check service history (especially CVT fluid changes), confirm airbag recalls are done, and budget for bushes/mounts if the front end feels loose. A clean, serviced example can be a faithful workhorse; a neglected one will teach you new words for “clunk.”