One problem related to automatic transmission control module has been reported for the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer based on all problems reported for the 2002 Lancer.
Car shifts very hard, not like how a 4 cylinder engine should. Has a "popping" sound to accompany the hard shift. Several instances where the vehicle has "grinded" between shifts. Engine had reved to 4000-5000 rpm's for approximately 3 seconds before finally shifting into gear. This is an automatic transmission and should not be doing this with 19000 miles and it is only a year old. Has taken off on me once, where I had to swerve to avoid slamming into the back end of a car with children in the backseat. I took it to the dealer several times but the "problem could not be duplicated. " meanwhile every time I get into the car, the shifting gets worse. Tech line says there is no problem, and told the dealer that dropping out the trannie would accomplish nothing and would be a waste of time.