Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 Lancer 2.4L.
The 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer is a passenger car powered by a 2.4L four-cylinder engine paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 city, 26 highway, and 22 combined mpg—this model requires 4.5 quarts of engine oil with viscosity recommendations of 5W-20 or 10W-30 (API-rated). In terms of reliability, the 2005 Lancer recorded 24 total owner complaints, placing it well below the model's historical peak of 311 complaints in 2003 and far above its lowest complaint year of just 1 in 1996, with the top reported issue centered on air bags and six recalls issued for this model year.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 520 CCA battery, OE oil filter MZ690072. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | MZ690072 |
| Engine air filter | MR552951 |
| Fuel filter | MR552781 alt MR571545 |
| Spark plug | MN158596 alt MD374841 |
| Front wiper blades | 8250A536 alt MZ693015 |
| Serpentine belt | 4451A106 alt MN187154 |
| Thermostat | MD315301 alt MN143463 |
| Cabin air filter | MR398288 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Overall length | 180.7 in |
| Overall width | 66.9 in |
| Overall height | 53.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 in |
| Curb weight | 2657 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 57.1 / 57.1 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 62/38 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 20 / 26 / 22 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 94 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 11 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent published road-test results.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Ralliart 2.4L I-4 | 7.30 sec | 15.50 sec | 162 hp | FWD |
| 2004 | Ralliart 2.4L I-4 | 7.30 sec | 15.50 sec | 162 hp | FWD |
| 2004 | Sportback Ralliart Wagon 2.4L I-4 | 8.90 sec | 16.56 sec | 162 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 / 10W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | Mitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 8.1 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 1.3 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 5W-20 · API · 10W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.5 qt |
| Manual Transmission Fluid | 75W-80 · GL-4 |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity | 4.7 |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 15-21 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | Bolts: 18 ft-lbs, nuts: 15 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 36 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 29.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs | 12 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 65-80 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Fill Plug | 23.0-25.0 ft-lbs |
| Transfer Case Drain Plug | 23.0-25.0 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 160-202 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 112-148 ft-lbs |
| Front Wheel Hub | 160-202 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 112-148 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 700 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 100 rpm |
| Spark Plug Gap | 0.028-0.035 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 13.0 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.06-1.15 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Oil Capacity | 2.0 L |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 35 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 520 cca |
| Injector Primary Resistance | 28 |
| Engine Compression | 164 |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 4.3 psi @ Idle, 43-100 psi @ 3500 rpm psi |
| Intake Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Torque to Knuckle | 52-65 ft-lbs |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | UPPER PIN: 60-66, LOWER PIN: 34-40 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 74-81 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 89-111 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in |
| Minimum Shoe Thickness | 0.039 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 1.26 in / 0.87 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 1.26 in / 0.87 in |
| 1 | 15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 15 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 58 ft. lbs. | 58 ft. lbs |
| 2 | Loosen all bolts completely in reverse order. | |
| 3 | 15 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 4 | 90 degrees. | 90 degrees |
| 5 | 90 degrees. | 90 degrees |
| 1 | 54 ft. lbs. | 54 ft. lbs |
| 2 | Loosen all bolts completely. | |
| 3 | 15 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 4 | 90 degrees. | 90 degrees |
| 5 | 90 degrees. | 90 degrees |
| 1 | 30 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 30 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 15,000 mi | Cabin Air Filter (replace) |
| Every 30,000 mi | Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Line (inspect) |
| Every 60,000 mi | Fuel System (inspect) |
| At 105,000 mi | Timing Belt (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2005 Lancer sits in a clear post-peak improvement window after the 2002–2003 generation launch surge that produced 155 and 311 complaints respectively; by 2005 complaints had fallen to 24, the lowest level since the pre-2002 era, while recalls held at six — consistent with the 2003–2006 plateau of six to seven per year — and investigations remained at two. Technical service bulletins declined steadily from 97 in 2002 to 81 in 2005, reflecting diminishing service campaign activity. The complaint profile is narrowly concentrated: air bags account for nine of the 24 complaints, with electrical system, vehicle speed control, and hydraulic service brakes each registering only two; the data does not specify root causes for any category. Three crash-related complaints were recorded with no fire incidents. Compared to the subsequent 2008–2010 spike that pushed complaints back above 80, the 2005 model year represents a relative low point in the generation's federal record. Provided all six recalls have been addressed, the 2005 Lancer is a comparatively clean vintage to purchase.
All 24 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Lancer and Lancer Evolution vehicles and 2004 Lancer Sportback vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air… Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a different inflator, free of charge. The recall began on October 12, 2017…
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles that previously received a like-for-like passenger side frontal air bag inflator under recall 15V321 as interim… Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a final replacement passenger side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 26, 2018. Owners may…
Showing 5 of 81 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIN-25-00-013 | 2025-11-10 | Air Bags | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Puerto… |
| TIN-25-00-011 | 2025-09-08 | Air Bags | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Texas… |
| TIN-25-00-004 | 2025-04-11 | Air Bags | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Louisiana… |
| TIN-25-00-005 | 2025-04-11 | Air Bags | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Ohio… |
| TIN-24-00-011 | 2024-12-09 | Air Bags | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that MMNA is launching a social… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.5 qt of BELOW 100 degreesF 5W-20 SM API, ABOVE 0 degreesF 10W-30 SM API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.