Total Complaints
3 filings
MITSUBISHI CANTER · model year
2002 MITSUBISHI CANTER
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002MITSUBISHICANTER carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 CANTER is power train:driveline:driveshaft with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys (1) and power train:automatic transmission (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2002 CANTER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060109POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 PAID FOR A DEFECTIVE CAR AND NO ONE WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY WITH MITSUBISHI VEHICLES RIGHT NOW. I WAS THINKING ABOUT BUYING A MITSUBISHI STATION WAGON, BUT I AM WORRIED THAT I MAY GET MYSELF IN THE SAME SITUATION. PLEASE HELP ME. I DON'T THINK THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF ORDER HERE. THANKS. *JB
Mileage: 1,000
20051114POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
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
Mileage: 39,778
20051114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
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
Mileage: 39,778
Compare 2002MITSUBISHICANTER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 MITSUBISHI CANTER have?▼
The 2002 MITSUBISHI CANTER has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 MITSUBISHI CANTER?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 MITSUBISHI CANTER is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2002 MITSUBISHI CANTER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.