2011 Mitsubishi LANCER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
50,606 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 34 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 20.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 14.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Engine: 8; Power Train: 6; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Steering: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 6; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10449273 · 2012-02-24 (February 24, 2012)
BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW ONLY HAD IT A LITTLE OVER A MONTH,SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON,DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MISFIRING AND FIXED. 2 WEEKS LATER SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, CALLED AND MADE APPT. NEXT DAY I AM DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HEAR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE,TRANSMISSION BLEW. AND TO TOP IT OFF MANUFACTURE WON'T COVER WARRANTY BECAUSE EVIDENTIALLY I WAS RACING AND DOING BURNOUTS,WHICH WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL. THIS CAR DEFINITELY HAS DEFECTS. EVEN IF I WAS BEATING IT AND DOING WHAT I WAS ACCUSED OF I HIGHLY DOUBT THE TRANS WOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554305 · 2013-12-02 (December 2, 2013)
I OWN A MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X GSR 2011. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 2013 BRAND NEW. BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2013 (7 MONTHS) I HAD ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND I STARTED EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR WAS ENGAGING PROPERLY BUT THERE WAS A DELAY ON GETTING TRACTION TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE RAMPED UP SEVERAL RPMS BEFORE THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING IN ANY GEAR. ON OCTOBER 2ND 2013 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816176 · 2015-12-24 (December 24, 2015)
THIS CAR WE OWN WAS IN A ACCIDENT THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS PUSHED IN CAUSE IT HIT A MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE GEICO ADJUSTER COULDNT BELEIVE THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR THE SEATBELT RETRACTED! THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED MY WIFE WAS THE SEATBELT FOR A SEC AND HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ADJUSTER ALSO HAD SAID THAT THE SENSORS FOR THE AIR BAGS WERE TRIPPED AND IT DID NOT WORK. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! GEICO IS FILING A SUBROGATION CLAIM AGAINST MITSUBISHI SINCE WE CALLED MISTSUBISHI AND THEY DIDNT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MARIAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10910096 · 2016-09-27 (September 27, 2016)
HI MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MHE 2011 LANCER WHILE SHE WAS TURNING TOWARD THE RIGHT TO ANOTHER STREET THE WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL TURN A LITTLE THEN LOCKED UP ON HER ALMOST STRUCKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THAT HAPPEND SHE ALSO STEPED ON HER BRAKES AND DINT ALSO WANYED TO STOP. ALMOST CUASING HER AND MY SON TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT HAPPEND ON A STATE ROUTE INTO A STREET. NEXT DAY CAR HAS A WIERD SOUND EVERY TIME U TURN LEFT AND STEERING FEELS FUNNY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10910096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11031968 · 2017-10-05 (October 5, 2017)
VEHICLE OPERATING AT >3000 RPM CVT AND ENGINE WHINE AND LOSS OF POWER.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088595 · 2018-04-17 (April 17, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TAINO MOTORS, CARR 8887 KM 7.5BO. SAN ANTON, CAROLINA, 00986, PUERTO RICO, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE ROTATED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V069000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,533 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428800 · 2011-10-05 (October 5, 2011)
AT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED ,SERVICE BRAKE PEDAL SANK TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 347 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11155408 · 2018-12-02 (December 2, 2018)
"TAKATA RECALL" MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERSR-18-001 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER18V069 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY DUE TO REPETITION OF HIGH LOAD OPERATIONS, THE FLANGE OF THE DRIVE BELT AUTOMATIC TENSIONER MAY CRACK, CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT DETACHMENT. SAFETY RISK IF THE DRIVE BELT DETACHES, THE ALTERNATOR WILL NOT CHARGE THE BATTERY, CAUSING ENGINE STALL, AND/OR THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WILL BE DISABLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY OWNERS OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED AND ENCOURAGED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES…
Owner-reported narrative. 129,670 miles reported. Look up ODI 11155408 at NHTSA ↗