Defogger problems of the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer

The contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that the levers for the climate controls fractured. The contact was unable to defrost his windows when needed. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer. After diagnosis they advised him that the heater climate control levers failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 170,000.

I own a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer sportback. The heater and cooling control knob for interior heating and cooling will not change over from air conditioning to heat. In the area that I live it is very cold in the winter months ( 20 - 30 degrees). According to research I have done on this issue it is s known issue at Mitsubishi. This is a safety hazard due to the heating system not working to defrost my windshield when needed and no heat. If Mitsubishi knows this is an issue then why is there not a recall to correct the problem. I have located many complaints with this and it is on newer models as well. So new products are coming out with the same issue. This needs to be resolved before more vehicles are produced and the used one need to be fixed so that owners do not run into a hazardous condition that could have been avoided.

Heater and a/c control know is too stiff to turn requiring me to adjust it manually under the dash, which is dangerous or impossible while driving.

I turned the knob to heat. It was pretty stiff but it would move to cold temperature fine. I tried it again and the knob and part of the shaft broke off. I had to drive to work in the cold. Good thing I worked about 10 minutes away. Today I was searching on the internet to see how much it would cost. That's when I saw a comment saying there was a TSB issue on 04 model Lancers. Luckily I found this website. Hope Mitsubishi would do something about this, its October and I really need my heater.

The temperature control knob became very difficult to turn, and broke off. This made for a safety issue when the windshield wouldn't defrost. I'm also now unable to use the heat.

I own a 2004 Mitsubishi lance ralliart sedan. The air control switch (knob used to adjust the temperature) began sticking/catching about in about 2006 (my car was already out of the warranty time frame due to mileage). The switch then broke completely off in 2008. To fix the problem the dealership needs to replace the entire heating control unit, modify (cut) the damper, and install a new lever which costs over $1600. I found that this same heater control unit has been used since 2002 in Lancers, galants, endeavors, and other models - all having the same issue - it eventually fails and the owner is stuck paying more than $1600 to fix what should have been repaired in latter models or simply fixed with a new switch.

I bought a 2004 Lancer oz rally brand new, still drive it daily and I've always had this problem too. It was hard to turn to the heat and the knob broke off. I can't use the heat anymore because I can't get it to turn at all. I even tried using needle nose pliers (mine still has some of the white plastic part attached), which worked a few times but now I can't get it to turn at all. In 2006, when the knob broke off, I contacted the dealer where I bought the car from about the problem. They said it would cost at least $800 to repair. I asked why, it's just a knob? they told me they had to take my whole dash apart to fix it and it was mostly labor costs. I can't afford to pay this for a faulty mechanism. I also couldn't use my defroster this morning and really needed it. I had to pull over to wipe my windows. . . Not safe Mitsubishi!!!! please recall this now!!!.